First evidence of γ collectivity close to the doubly magic core Sn 132

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

Urban, W.; Sieja, K.; Rząca-Urban, T.

2016-03-01

The Te-138 and Xe-140 nuclei have been reinvestigated using prompt gamma-ray data from spontaneous fission of Cm-248, collected with the EUROGAM2 Ge array. gamma bands have been identified in both nuclei. The gamma band observed in Te-138, a nucleus with only six valence nucleons, indicates the presence of collectivity very close to the doubly magic Sn-132 core. Such band is even more pronounced in Xe-140, the N = 86 isotone of Te-138. The newly observed bands are interpreted within the shell model, which reproduce well the. collectivity at N = 86.

Chronic suppression of μ-opioid receptor signaling in the nucleus accumbens attenuates development of diet-induced obesity in rats.

PubMed

Lenard, N R; Zheng, H; Berthoud, H-R

2010-06-01

To test the hypothesis that micro-opioid receptor signaling in the nucleus accumbens contributes to hedonic (over)eating and obesity. To investigate the effects of chronic micro-opioid antagonism in the nucleus accumbens core or shell on intake of a palatable diet, and the development of diet-induced obesity in rats. Chronic blockade of micro-opioid receptor signaling in the nucleus accumbens core or shell was achieved by means of repeated injections (every 4-5 days) of the irreversible receptor antagonist beta-funaltrexamine (BFNA) over 3-5 weeks. The diet consisted of either a choice of high-fat chow, chocolate-flavored Ensure and regular chow (each nutritionally complete) or regular chow only. Intake of each food item, body weight and body fat mass were monitored throughout the study. The BFNA injections aimed at either the core or shell of the nucleus accumbens resulted in significantly attenuated intake of palatable diet, body weight gain and fat accretion, compared with vehicle control injections. The injection of BFNA in the core did not significantly change these parameters in chow-fed control rats. The injection of BFNA in the core and shell differentially affected intake of the two palatable food items: in the core, BFNA significantly reduced the intake of high-fat, but not of Ensure, whereas in the shell, it significantly reduced the intake of Ensure, but not of high-fat, compared with vehicle treatment. Endogenous micro-opioid receptor signaling in the nucleus accumbens core and shell is necessary for palatable diet-induced hyperphagia and obesity to fully develop in rats. Sweet and non-sweet fatty foods may be differentially processed in subcomponents of the ventral striatum.

Deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens shell attenuates cue-induced reinstatement of both cocaine and sucrose seeking in rats.

PubMed

Guercio, Leonardo A; Schmidt, Heath D; Pierce, R Christopher

2015-03-15

Stimuli previously associated with drug taking can become triggers that can elicit craving and lead to relapse of drug-seeking behavior. Here, we examined the influence of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the nucleus accumbens shell on cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking, an animal model of relapse. Rats were allowed to self-administer cocaine (0.254 mg, i.v.) for 2 h daily for 21 days, with each infusion of cocaine being paired with a cue light. After 21 days of self-administration, cocaine-taking behavior was extinguished by replacing cocaine with saline in the absence of the cue light. Next, during the reinstatement phase, DBS was administered bilaterally into the nucleus accumbens shell through bipolar stainless steel electrodes immediately prior to re-exposure to cues previously associated with cocaine reinforcement. DBS continued throughout the 2 h reinstatement session. Parallel studies examined the influence of accumbens shell DBS on reinstatement induced by cues previously associated with sucrose reinforcement. Results indicated that DBS of the nucleus accumbens shell significantly attenuated cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine and sucrose seeking. Together, these results indicate that DBS of the accumbens shell disrupts cue-induced reinstatement associated with both a drug and a natural reinforcer. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of Dopamine Receptors Subtypes, D1-Like and D2-Like, within the Nucleus Accumbens Subregions, Core and Shell, on Memory Consolidation in the One-Trial Inhibitory Avoidance Task

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manago, Francesca; Castellano, Claudio; Oliverio, Alberto; Mele, Andrea; De Leonibus, Elvira

2009-01-01

Recent evidence demonstrated that dopamine within the nucleus accumbens mediates consolidation of both associative and nonassociative memories. However, the specific contribution of the nucleus accumbens subregions, core and shell, and of D1 and D2 receptors subtypes has not been yet clarified. The aim of this study was, therefore, to directly…

Structure analysis for hole-nuclei close to 132Sn by a large-scale shell-model calculation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Han-Kui; Sun, Yang; Jin, Hua; Kaneko, Kazunari; Tazaki, Shigeru

2013-11-01

The structure of neutron-rich nuclei with a few holes in respect of the doubly magic nucleus 132Sn is investigated by means of large-scale shell-model calculations. For a considerably large model space, including orbitals allowing both neutron and proton core excitations, an effective interaction for the extended pairing-plus-quadrupole model with monopole corrections is tested through detailed comparison between the calculation and experimental data. By using the experimental energy of the core-excited 21/2+ level in 131In as a benchmark, monopole corrections are determined that describe the size of the neutron N=82 shell gap. The level spectra, up to 5 MeV of excitation in 131In, 131Sn, 130In, 130Cd, and 130Sn, are well described and clearly explained by couplings of single-hole orbitals and by core excitations.

Scale-free models for the structure of business firm networks.

PubMed

Kitsak, Maksim; Riccaboni, Massimo; Havlin, Shlomo; Pammolli, Fabio; Stanley, H Eugene

2010-03-01

We study firm collaborations in the life sciences and the information and communication technology sectors. We propose an approach to characterize industrial leadership using k -shell decomposition, with top-ranking firms in terms of market value in higher k -shell layers. We find that the life sciences industry network consists of three distinct components: a "nucleus," which is a small well-connected subgraph, "tendrils," which are small subgraphs consisting of small degree nodes connected exclusively to the nucleus, and a "bulk body," which consists of the majority of nodes. Industrial leaders, i.e., the largest companies in terms of market value, are in the highest k -shells of both networks. The nucleus of the life sciences sector is very stable: once a firm enters the nucleus, it is likely to stay there for a long time. At the same time we do not observe the above three components in the information and communication technology sector. We also conduct a systematic study of these three components in random scale-free networks. Our results suggest that the sizes of the nucleus and the tendrils in scale-free networks decrease as the exponent of the power-law degree distribution lambda increases, and disappear for lambda>or=3 . We compare the k -shell structure of random scale-free model networks with two real-world business firm networks in the life sciences and in the information and communication technology sectors. We argue that the observed behavior of the k -shell structure in the two industries is consistent with the coexistence of both preferential and random agreements in the evolution of industrial networks.

Opposite roles for neuropeptide S in the nucleus accumbens and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in learned helplessness rats.

PubMed

Shirayama, Yukihiko; Ishima, Tamaki; Oda, Yasunori; Okamura, Naoe; Iyo, Masaomi; Hashimoto, Kenji

2015-09-15

The role of neuropeptide S (NPS) in depression remains unclear. We examined the antidepressant-like effects of NPS infusions into the shell or core regions of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) of learned helplessness (LH) rats (an animal model of depression). Infusions of NPS (10 pmol/side) into the NAc shell, but not the NAc core and BNST, exerted antidepressant-like effects in the LH paradigm. Implying that behavioral deficits could be improved in the conditioned avoidance test. Coinfusion of SHA68 (an NPS receptor antagonist, 100 pmol/side) with NPS into the NAc shell blocked these effects. In contrast, NPS receptor antagonism by SHA68 in the BNST induced antidepressant-like effects. Infusions of NPS into the NAc shell or SHA68 into the BNST did not produce memory deficits or locomotor activation in the passive avoidance and open field tests. These results suggest that excitatory and inhibitory actions by the NPS system are integral to the depression in LH animals. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reduced dopamine function within the medial shell of the nucleus accumbens enhances latent inhibition.

PubMed

Nelson, A J D; Thur, K E; Horsley, R R; Spicer, C; Marsden, C A; Cassaday, H J

2011-03-01

Latent inhibition (LI) manifests as poorer conditioning to a CS that has previously been presented without consequence. There is some evidence that LI can be potentiated by reduced mesoaccumbal dopamine (DA) function but the locus within the nucleus accumbens of this effect is as yet not firmly established. Experiment 1 tested whether 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesions of DA terminals within the core and medial shell subregions of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) would enhance LI under conditions that normally disrupt LI in controls (weak pre-exposure). LI was measured in a thirst motivated conditioned emotional response procedure with 10 pre-exposures (to a noise CS) and 2 conditioning trials. The vehicle-injected and core-lesioned animals did not show LI and conditioned to the pre-exposed CS at comparable levels to the non-pre-exposed controls. 6-OHDA lesions to the medial shell, however, produced potentiation of LI, demonstrated across two extinction tests. In a subsequent experiment, haloperidol microinjected into the medial shell prior to conditioning similarly enhanced LI. These results underscore the dissociable roles of core and shell subregions of the NAc in mediating the expression of LI and indicate that reduced DA function within the medial shell leads to enhanced LI. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Scale-free models for the structure of business firm networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitsak, Maksim; Riccaboni, Massimo; Havlin, Shlomo; Pammolli, Fabio; Stanley, H. Eugene

2010-03-01

We study firm collaborations in the life sciences and the information and communication technology sectors. We propose an approach to characterize industrial leadership using k -shell decomposition, with top-ranking firms in terms of market value in higher k -shell layers. We find that the life sciences industry network consists of three distinct components: a “nucleus,” which is a small well-connected subgraph, “tendrils,” which are small subgraphs consisting of small degree nodes connected exclusively to the nucleus, and a “bulk body,” which consists of the majority of nodes. Industrial leaders, i.e., the largest companies in terms of market value, are in the highest k -shells of both networks. The nucleus of the life sciences sector is very stable: once a firm enters the nucleus, it is likely to stay there for a long time. At the same time we do not observe the above three components in the information and communication technology sector. We also conduct a systematic study of these three components in random scale-free networks. Our results suggest that the sizes of the nucleus and the tendrils in scale-free networks decrease as the exponent of the power-law degree distribution λ increases, and disappear for λ≥3 . We compare the k -shell structure of random scale-free model networks with two real-world business firm networks in the life sciences and in the information and communication technology sectors. We argue that the observed behavior of the k -shell structure in the two industries is consistent with the coexistence of both preferential and random agreements in the evolution of industrial networks.

Ultrastructure developments during spermiogenesis in Polydora ciliata (Annelida: Spionidae), a parasite of mollusca

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Yan; Zhang, Tao; Zhang, Libin; Qiu, Tianlong; Xue, Dongxiu; Yang, Hongsheng

2014-12-01

Spionid worms of Polydora ciliata inhabit the shells of many commercially important bivalves and cause disease in molluscan aquaculture. Their sperm structure is closely related to their fertilization method. To give an insight into the sperm structure and spermatogenesis, ultrastructure details of the subcellular components of germ cells during spermiogenesis of Polydora ciliata are detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In P. ciliata, during spermiogenesis, chromatin is regularly arranged as dense fibrils and becomes more condensed when the nucleus elongates. Microtubules do not surround the nucleus during its elongation. The Golgi phase is characterized by the formation of proacrosomal granules within the Golgi apparatus. The proacrosomal granules fuse to form a single, spherical acrosomal vesicle that migrates to the anterior pole of the cell. At the time of nuclear condensation, mitochondria become reduced in number but increased in size, causing deep indentation at the base of the nucleus. The mid-piece has a few mitochondria. The cap phase includes the spreading of the acrosomal granule over the surface of the nucleus of the differentiating spermatid. The acrosomal phase of spermiogenesis is typically associated with changes in the shape of the nucleus, acrosome and tail. The relationship of sperm ultrastructure to spermiogenesis in spionidae species was discussed.

The Role of Nucleus Accumbens Shell in Learning about Neutral versus Excitatory Stimuli during Pavlovian Fear Conditioning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bradfield, Laura A.; McNally, Gavan P.

2010-01-01

We studied the role of nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) in Pavlovian fear conditioning. Rats were trained to fear conditioned stimulus A (CSA) in Stage I, which was then presented in compound with a neutral stimulus and paired with shock in Stage II. AcbSh lesions had no effect on fear-learning to CSA in Stage I, but selectively prevented learning…

Sexual behavior induction of c-Fos in the nucleus accumbens and amphetamine-stimulated locomotor activity are sensitized by previous sexual experience in female Syrian hamsters.

PubMed

Bradley, K C; Meisel, R L

2001-03-15

Dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens can be activated by drugs, stress, or motivated behaviors, and repeated exposure to these stimuli can sensitize this dopamine response. The objectives of this study were to determine whether female sexual behavior activates nucleus accumbens neurons and whether past sexual experience cross-sensitizes neuronal responses in the nucleus accumbens to amphetamine. Using immunocytochemical labeling, c-Fos expression in different subregions (shell vs core at the rostral, middle, and caudal levels) of the nucleus accumbens was examined in female hamsters that had varying amounts of sexual experience. Female hamsters, given either 6 weeks of sexual experience or remaining sexually naive, were tested for sexual behavior by exposure to adult male hamsters. Previous sexual experience increased c-Fos labeling in the rostral and caudal levels but not in the middle levels of the nucleus accumbens. Testing for sexual behavior increased labeling in the core, but not the shell, of the nucleus accumbens. To validate that female sexual behavior can sensitize neurons in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, the locomotor responses of sexually experienced and sexually naive females to an amphetamine injection were then compared. Amphetamine increased general locomotor activity in all females. However, sexually experienced animals responded sooner to amphetamine than did sexually naive animals. These data indicate that female sexual behavior can activate neurons in the nucleus accumbens and that sexual experience can cross-sensitize neuronal responses to amphetamine. In addition, these results provide additional evidence for functional differences between the shell and core of the nucleus accumbens and across its anteroposterior axis.

Mechanical response and buckling of a polymer simulation model of the cell nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banigan, Edward; Stephens, Andrew; Marko, John

The cell nucleus must robustly resist extra- and intracellular forces to maintain genome architecture. Micromanipulation experiments measuring nuclear mechanical response reveal that the nucleus has two force response regimes: a linear short-extension response due to the chromatin interior and a stiffer long-extension response from lamin A, comprising the intermediate filament protein shell. To explain these results, we developed a quantitative simulation model with realistic parameters for chromatin and the lamina. Our model predicts that crosslinking between chromatin and the lamina is essential for responding to small strains and that changes to the interior topological organization can alter the mechanical response of the whole nucleus. Thus, chromatin polymer elasticity, not osmotic pressure, is the dominant regulator of this force response. Our model reveals a novel buckling transition for polymer shells: as force increases, the shell buckles transverse to the applied force. This transition, which arises from topological constrains in the lamina, can be mitigated by tuning the properties of the chromatin interior. Thus, we find that the genome is a resistive mechanical element that can be tuned by its organization and connectivity to the lamina.

Nucleus Z=126 with magic neutron number N=184 may be related to the measured Maruhn-Greiner maximum at A/2=155 from compound nuclei at low energy nuclear reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prelas, M. A.; Hora, H.; Miley, G. H.

2014-07-01

Evaluation of nuclear binding energies from theory close to available measurements of a very high number of superheavy elements (SHE) based on α-decay energies Qα, arrived at a closing shell with a significant neutron number 184. Within the option of several discussed magic numbers for protons of around 120, Bagge's numbers 126 and 184 fit well and are supported by the element generation measurements by low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) discovered in deuterium loaded host metals. These measurements were showing a Maruhn-Greiner maximum from fission of compound nuclei in an excited state with double magic numbers for mutual confirmation.

NEW CLASS OF VERY HIGH ENERGY {gamma}-RAY EMITTERS: RADIO-DARK MINI SHELLS SURROUNDING ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS JETS

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

Kino, Motoki; Ito, Hirotaka; Kawakatu, Nozomu

We explore non-thermal emission from a shocked interstellar medium, which is identified as an expanding shell, driven by a relativistic jet in active galactic nuclei (AGNs). In this work, we particularly focus on parsec-scale size mini shells surrounding mini radio lobes. From the radio to X-ray band, the mini radio lobe emission dominates the faint emission from the mini shell. On the other hand, we find that inverse-Compton (IC) emission from the shell can overwhelm the associated lobe emission at the very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) {gamma}-ray range, because energy densities of synchrotron photons from the lobemore » and/or soft photons from the AGN nucleus are large and IC scattering works effectively. The predicted IC emission from nearby mini shells can be detected with the Cherenkov Telescope Array and they are potentially a new class of VHE {gamma}-ray emitters.« less

Brain reward circuitry beyond the mesolimbic dopamine system: a neurobiological theory.

PubMed

Ikemoto, Satoshi

2010-11-01

Reductionist attempts to dissect complex mechanisms into simpler elements are necessary, but not sufficient for understanding how biological properties like reward emerge out of neuronal activity. Recent studies on intracranial self-administration of neurochemicals (drugs) found that rats learn to self-administer various drugs into the mesolimbic dopamine structures-the posterior ventral tegmental area, medial shell nucleus accumbens and medial olfactory tubercle. In addition, studies found roles of non-dopaminergic mechanisms of the supramammillary, rostromedial tegmental and midbrain raphe nuclei in reward. To explain intracranial self-administration and related effects of various drug manipulations, I outlined a neurobiological theory claiming that there is an intrinsic central process that coordinates various selective functions (including perceptual, visceral, and reinforcement processes) into a global function of approach. Further, this coordinating process for approach arises from interactions between brain structures including those structures mentioned above and their closely linked regions: the medial prefrontal cortex, septal area, ventral pallidum, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, preoptic area, lateral hypothalamic areas, lateral habenula, periaqueductal gray, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus and parabrachical area. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Functional Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Assay to Characterize Dopamine D2 and D3 Autoreceptors in the Mouse Striatum

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Dopamine D2 and D3 autoreceptors are located on presynaptic terminals and are known to control the release and synthesis of dopamine. Dopamine D3 receptors have a fairly restricted pattern of expression in the mammalian brain. Their localization in the nucleus accumbens core and shell is of particular interest because of their association with the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse. Using background subtracted fast scan cyclic voltammetry, we investigated the effects of dopamine D2 and D3 agonists on electrically stimulated dopamine release and uptake rates in the mouse caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens core and shell. The dopamine D2 agonists (−)-quinpirole hydrochloride and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-(2-propen-1-yl)-4H-thiazolo[4,5-d]azepin-2-amine dihydrochloride (B-HT 920) had the same dopamine release inhibition effects on caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens (core and shell) on the basis of their EC50 values and efficacies. This suggests that the dopamine D2 autoreceptor functionality is comparable in all three striatal regions investigated. The dopamine D3 agonists (4aR,10bR)-3,4a,4,10b-tetrahydro-4-propyl-2H,5H-[1]benzopyrano-[4,3-b]-1,4-oxazin-9-ol hydrochloride ((+)-PD 128907) and (±)-7-Hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin hydrobromide (7-OH-DPAT) had a significantly greater effect on dopamine release inhibition in the nucleus accumbens shell than in the caudate putamen. This study confirms that, the dopamine D3 autoreceptor functionality is greater in the nucleus accumbens shell followed by the nucleus accumbens core, with the caudate putamen having the least. Neither dopamine D2 nor D3 agonists affected the uptake rates in nucleus accumbens but concentrations greater than 0.1 μM lowered the uptake rate in caudate putamen. To validate our method of evaluating dopamine D2 and D3 autoreceptors, sulpiride (D2 antagonist) and nafadotride (D3 antagonist) were used to reverse the effects of the dopamine agonists to approximately 100% of the preagonist dopamine release concentration. Finally, these results demonstrate a functional voltammetric assay that characterizes dopamine D2-like agonists as either D2- or D3-preferring agonists by taking advantage of the unique receptor density within the striatum. PMID:20567609

Advanced MR Imaging of the Human Nucleus Accumbens--Additional Guiding Tool for Deep Brain Stimulation.

PubMed

Lucas-Neto, Lia; Reimão, Sofia; Oliveira, Edson; Rainha-Campos, Alexandre; Sousa, João; Nunes, Rita G; Gonçalves-Ferreira, António; Campos, Jorge G

2015-07-01

The human nucleus accumbens (Acc) has become a target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in some neuropsychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, even with the most recent advances in neuroimaging it remains difficult to accurately delineate the Acc and closely related subcortical structures, by conventional MRI sequences. It is our purpose to perform a MRI study of the human Acc and to determine whether there are reliable anatomical landmarks that enable the precise location and identification of the nucleus and its core/shell division. For the Acc identification and delineation, based on anatomical landmarks, T1WI, T1IR and STIR 3T-MR images were acquired in 10 healthy volunteers. Additionally, 32-direction DTI was obtained for Acc segmentation. Seed masks for the Acc were generated with FreeSurfer and probabilistic tractography was performed using FSL. The probability of connectivity between the seed voxels and distinct brain areas was determined and subjected to k-means clustering analysis, defining 2 different regions. With conventional T1WI, the Acc borders are better defined through its surrounding anatomical structures. The DTI color-coded vector maps and IR sequences add further detail in the Acc identification and delineation. Additionally, using probabilistic tractography it is possible to segment the Acc into a core and shell division and establish its structural connectivity with different brain areas. Advanced MRI techniques allow in vivo delineation and segmentation of the human Acc and represent an additional guiding tool in the precise and safe target definition for DBS. © 2015 International Neuromodulation Society.

Neural correlates of Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer in the nucleus accumbens shell are selectively potentiated following cocaine self-administration

PubMed Central

Saddoris, Michael P.; Stamatakis, Alice; Carelli, Regina M.

2013-01-01

During Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT), learned Pavlovian cues significantly modulate ongoing instrumental actions. This phenomenon is suggested as a mechanism under which conditioned stimuli may lead to relapse in addicted populations. Following discriminative Pavlovian learning and instrumental conditioning with sucrose, one group of rats (naive) underwent electrophysiological recordings in the nucleus accumbens core and shell during a single PIT session. Other groups, following Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning, were subsequently trained to self-administer cocaine with nosepoke responses, or received yoked saline infusions and nosepoked for water rewards, and then performed PIT while electrophysiological recordings were taken in the nucleus accumbens. Behaviorally, although both naive and saline-treated groups showed increases in lever pressing during the conditioned stimulus cue, this effect was significantly enhanced in the cocaine-treated group. Neurons in the core and shell tracked these behavioral changes. In control animals, core neurons were significantly more likely to encode general information about cues, rewards and responses than those in the shell, and positively correlated with behavioral PIT performance, whereas PIT-specific encoding in the shell, but not core, tracked PIT performance. In contrast, following cocaine exposure, there was a significant increase in neural encoding of all task-relevant events that was selective to the shell. Given that cocaine exposure enhanced both behavior and shell-specific task encoding, these findings suggest that, whereas the core is important for acquiring the information about cues and response contingencies, the shell is important for using this information to guide and modulate behavior and is specifically affected following a history of cocaine self-administration. PMID:21507084

Building Atoms Shell by Shell.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sussman, Beverly

1993-01-01

Describes an atom-building activity where students construct three-dimensional models of atoms using a styrofoam ball as the nucleus and pom-poms, gum drops, minimarshmallows, or other small items of two different colors to represent protons and neutrons attached. Rings of various sizes with pom-poms attached represent electron shells and…

Accumbal μ-Opioid Receptors Modulate Ethanol Intake in Alcohol-Preferring Alko Alcohol Rats.

PubMed

Uhari-Väänänen, Johanna; Raasmaja, Atso; Bäckström, Pia; Oinio, Ville; Airavaara, Mikko; Piepponen, Petteri; Kiianmaa, Kalervo

2016-10-01

The nucleus accumbens shell is a key brain area mediating the reinforcing effects of ethanol (EtOH). Previously, it has been shown that the density of μ-opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell is higher in alcohol-preferring Alko Alcohol (AA) rats than in alcohol-avoiding Alko Non-Alcohol rats. In addition, EtOH releases opioid peptides in the nucleus accumbens and opioid receptor antagonists are able to modify EtOH intake, all suggesting an opioidergic mechanism in the control of EtOH consumption. As the exact mechanisms of opioidergic involvement remains to be elucidated, the aim of this study was to clarify the role of accumbal μ- and κ-opioid receptors in controlling EtOH intake in alcohol-preferring AA rats. Microinfusions of the μ-opioid receptor antagonist CTOP (0.3 and 1 μg/site), μ-opioid receptor agonist DAMGO (0.03 and 0.1 μg/site), nonselective opioid receptor agonist morphine (30 μg/site), and κ-opioid receptor agonist U50488H (0.3 and 1 μg/site) were administered via bilateral guide cannulas into the nucleus accumbens shell of AA rats that voluntarily consumed 10% EtOH solution in an intermittent, time-restricted (90-minute) 2-bottle choice access paradigm. CTOP (1 μg/site) significantly increased EtOH intake. Conversely, DAMGO resulted in a decreasing trend in EtOH intake. Neither morphine nor U50488H had any effect on EtOH intake in the used paradigm. The results provide further evidence for the role of accumbens shell μ-opioid receptors but not κ-opioid receptors in mediating reinforcing effects of EtOH and in regulating EtOH consumption. The results also provide support for views suggesting that the nucleus accumbens shell has a major role in mediating EtOH reward. Copyright © 2016 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.

Structure of Sn 107 studied through single-neutron knockout reactions

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

Cerizza, G.; Ayres, A.; Jones, K. L.

2016-02-04

The neutron-deficient nucleus Sn-107 has been studied by using the one-neutron knockout reaction. By measuring the decay gamma rays and momentum distributions of reaction residues, the spins of the ground, 5/2 +, and first-excited, 7/2 +, states of Sn-107 have been assigned by comparisons to eikonal-model reaction calculations. We also observed limits on the inclusive and exclusive cross sections and transitions due to neutron removals from below the N = 50 closed shell have been observed. New excited states up to 5.5 MeV in Sn-107 have been identified.

Rewarding and aversive effects of nicotine are segregated within the nucleus accumbens.

PubMed

Sellings, Laurie H L; Baharnouri, Golriz; McQuade, Lindsey E; Clarke, Paul B S

2008-07-01

Forebrain dopamine plays a critical role in motivated behavior. According to the classic view, mesolimbic dopamine selectively guides behavior motivated by positive reinforcers. However, this has been challenged in favor of a wider role encompassing aversively motivated behavior. This controversy is particularly striking in the case of nicotine, with opposing claims that either the rewarding or the aversive effect of nicotine is critically dependent on mesolimbic dopamine transmission. In the present study, the effects of 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of nucleus accumbens core vs. medial shell on intravenous nicotine conditioned place preference and conditioned taste aversion were examined in male adult rats. Dopaminergic denervation in accumbens medial shell was associated with decreased nicotine conditioned place preference. Conversely, denervation in accumbens core was associated with an increase in conditioned place preference. In addition, dopaminergic denervation of accumbens core but not medial shell abolished conditioned taste aversion for nicotine. We conclude that nucleus accumbens core and medial shell dopaminergic innervation exert segregated effects on rewarding and aversive effects of nicotine. More generally, our findings indicate that dopaminergic transmission may mediate or enable opposing motivational processes within functionally distinct domains of the accumbens.

Beta Decay Study of the Tz = - 256Zn Nucleus and the Determination of the Half-Lives of a Few fp-shell Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubio, B.; Orrigo, S. E. A.; Kucuk, L.; Montaner-Pizá, A.; Fujita, Y.; Fujita, H.; Blank, B.; Gelletly, W.; Adachi, T.; Agramunt, J.; Algora, A.; Ascher, P.; Bilgier, B.; Cáceres, L.; Cakirli, R. B.; de France, G.; Ganioğlu, E.; Gerbaux, M.; Giovinazzo, J.; Grevy, S.; Kamalou, O.; Kozer, H. C.; Kurtukian-Nieto, T.; Marqués, F. M.; Molina, F.; Oktem, Y.; de Oliveira Santos, F.; Perrot, L.; Popescu, L.; Raabe, R.; Rogers, A. M.; Srivastava, P. C.; Susoy, G.; Suzuki, T.; Tamii, A.; Thomas, J. C.

2014-06-01

This paper concerns the experimental study of the β decay properties of few proton-rich fp-shell nuclei. The nuclei were produced at GANIL in fragmentation reactions, separated with the LISE spectrometer and stopped in an implantation detector surrounded by Ge detectors. The β-delayed gammas, β-delayed protons and the exotic β-delayed gamma-proton emission have been studied. Preliminary results are presented. The decay of the Tz = - 2 nucleus 56Zn has been studied in detail. Information from the β-delayed protons and β-delayed gammas has been used to deduce the decay scheme. The exotic beta-delayed gamma-proton decay has been observed for the first time in the fp-shell. The interpretation of the data was made possible thanks to the detailed knowledge of the mirror Charge Exchange (CE) process and the gamma de-excitation of the states in 56Co, the mirror nucleus of 56Cu.

Behavioral Flexibility Is Increased by Optogenetic Inhibition of Neurons in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell during Specific Time Segments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aquili, Luca; Liu, Andrew W.; Shindou, Mayumi; Shindou, Tomomi; Wickens, Jeffery R.

2014-01-01

Behavioral flexibility is vital for survival in an environment of changing contingencies. The nucleus accumbens may play an important role in behavioral flexibility, representing learned stimulus-reward associations in neural activity during response selection and learning from results. To investigate the role of nucleus accumbens neural activity…

Emotional environments retune the valence of appetitive versus fearful functions in nucleus accumbens

PubMed Central

Reynolds, Sheila M; Berridge, Kent C

2009-01-01

The nucleus accumbens mediates both appetitive motivation for rewards and fearful motivation toward threats, which are generated in part by glutamate-related circuits organized in a keyboard fashion. At rostral sites of the medial shell, localized glutamate disruptions typically generate intense appetitive behaviors in rats, but the disruption incrementally generates fearful behaviors as microinjection sites move more caudally. We found that exposure to stressful environments caused caudal fear-generating zones to expand rostrally, filling ~90% of the shell. Conversely, a preferred home environment caused fear-generating zones to shrink and appetitive-generating zones to expand caudally, filling ~90% of the shell. Thus, the emotional environments retuned the generation of motivation in corticolimbic circuits. PMID:18344996

Excessive disgust caused by brain lesions or temporary inactivations: Mapping hotspots of nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum

PubMed Central

Ho, Chao-Yi; Berridge, Kent C.

2014-01-01

Disgust is a prototypical type of negative affect. In animal models of excessive disgust, only a few brain sites are known in which localized dysfunction (lesions or neural inactivations) can induce intense ‘disgust reactions’ (e.g., gapes) to a normally pleasant sensation such as sweetness. Here we aimed to map forebrain candidates more precisely to identify where either local neuronal damage (excitotoxin lesions) or local pharmacological inactivation (muscimol-baclofen microinjections) caused rats to emit excessive sensory disgust reactions to sucrose. Our study compared subregions of nucleus accumbens shell, ventral pallidum, lateral hypothalamus and adjacent extended amygdala. Results indicated the posterior half of ventral pallidum to be the only forebrain site where intense sensory disgust gapes to sucrose were induced by both lesions and temporary inactivations (this site was previously identified as a hedonic hotspot for enhancements of sweetness ‘liking’). By comparison, for the nucleus accumbens, temporary GABA inactivations in the caudal half of the medial shell also generated sensory disgust but lesions never did at any site. Further, even inactivations failed to induce disgust in the rostral half of accumbens shell (which also contains a hedonic hotspot). In other structures, neither lesions nor inactivations induced disgust as long as the posterior ventral pallidum remained spared. We conclude that the posterior ventral pallidum is an especially crucial hotspot for producing excessive sensory disgust by local pharmacological/lesion dysfunction. By comparison, the nucleus accumbens appears to segregate sites for pharmacological disgust induction and hedonic enhancement into separate posterior versus rostral halves of medial shell. PMID:25229197

Experimental study of the β decay of the very neutron-rich nucleus Ge 85

DOE PAGES

Korgul, A.; Rykaczewski, Krzysztof Piotr; Grzywacz, Robert Kazimierz; ...

2017-04-04

The β -decay properties of the very neutron-rich nucleus 85Ge, produced in the proton-induced fission of 238U, were studied at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The level scheme of 33 85As 52 populated in 85Geβ γ decay was reconstructed and compared to shell-model calculations. The investigation of the systematics of low-energy levels in N =52 isotones together with shell-model analysis allowed us to provide an estimate of the low-energy structure of the more exotic N =52 isotone 81Cu.

Spinodal assisted growing dynamics of critical nucleus in polymer blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xinghua; Qi, Shuanhu; Yan, Dadong

2012-11-01

In metastable polymer blends, nonclassical critical nucleus is not a drop of stable phase in core wrapped with a sharp interface, but a diffuse structure depending on the metastability. Thus, forming a critical nucleus does not mean the birth of a new phase. In the present work, the nonclassical growing dynamics of the critical nucleus is addressed in the metastable polymer blends by incorporating self-consistent field theory and external potential dynamics theory, which leads to an intuitionistic description for the scattering experiments. The results suggest that the growth of nonclassical critical nucleus is controlled by the spinodal-decomposition which happens in the region surrounding the nucleus. This leads to forming the shell structures around the nucleus.

Spectroscopy of the odd-odd fp-shell nucleus {sup 52}Sc from secondary fragmentation

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

Gade, A.; Bazin, D.; Mueller, W.F.

2006-03-15

The odd-odd fp-shell nucleus {sup 52}Sc was investigated using in-beam {gamma}-ray spectroscopy following secondary fragmentation of a {sup 55}V and {sup 57}Cr cocktail beam. Aside from the known {gamma}-ray transition at 674(5) keV, a new decay at E{sub {gamma}}=212(3) keV was observed. It is attributed to the depopulation of a low-lying excited level. This new state is discussed in the framework of shell-model calculations with the GXPF1, GXPF1A, and KB3G effective interactions. These calculations are found to be fairly robust for the low-lying level scheme of {sup 52}Sc irrespective of the choice of the effective interaction. In addition, the frequencymore » of spin values predicted by the shell model is successfully modeled by a spin distribution formulated in a statistical approach with an empirical, energy-independent spin-cutoff parameter.« less

Nucleus accumbens shell moderates preference bias during voluntary choice behavior.

PubMed

Jang, Hyeran; Jung, Kanghoon; Jeong, Jaehoon; Park, Sang Ki; Kralik, Jerald D; Jeong, Jaeseung

2017-09-01

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell lies anatomically at a critical intersection within the brain's reward system circuitry, however, its role in voluntary choice behavior remains unclear. Rats with electrolytic lesions in the NAc shell were tested in a novel foraging paradigm. Over a continuous two-week period they freely chose among four nutritionally identical but differently flavored food pellets by pressing corresponding levers. We examined the lesion's effects on three behavioral dynamics components: motivation (when to eat), preference bias (what to choose) and persistence (how long to repeat the same choice). The lesion led to a marked increase in the preference bias: i.e., increased selection of the most-preferred choice option, and decreased selection of the others. We found no effects on any other behavioral measures, suggesting no effect on motivation or choice persistence. The results implicate the NAc shell in moderating the instrumental valuation process by inhibiting excessive bias toward preferred choice options. © The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press.

Nucleus accumbens shell moderates preference bias during voluntary choice behavior

PubMed Central

Jang, Hyeran; Jung, Kanghoon; Jeong, Jaehoon; Park, Sang Ki; Kralik, Jerald D.

2017-01-01

Abstract The nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell lies anatomically at a critical intersection within the brain’s reward system circuitry, however, its role in voluntary choice behavior remains unclear. Rats with electrolytic lesions in the NAc shell were tested in a novel foraging paradigm. Over a continuous two-week period they freely chose among four nutritionally identical but differently flavored food pellets by pressing corresponding levers. We examined the lesion’s effects on three behavioral dynamics components: motivation (when to eat), preference bias (what to choose) and persistence (how long to repeat the same choice). The lesion led to a marked increase in the preference bias: i.e., increased selection of the most-preferred choice option, and decreased selection of the others. We found no effects on any other behavioral measures, suggesting no effect on motivation or choice persistence. The results implicate the NAc shell in moderating the instrumental valuation process by inhibiting excessive bias toward preferred choice options. PMID:28992274

Distinctive Modulation of Dopamine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell Mediated by Dopamine and Acetylcholine Receptors.

PubMed

Shin, Jung Hoon; Adrover, Martin F; Alvarez, Veronica A

2017-11-15

Nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell shows unique dopamine (DA) signals in vivo and plays a unique role in DA-dependent behaviors such as reward-motivated learning and the response to drugs of abuse. A disynaptic mechanism for DA release was reported and shown to require synchronized firing of cholinergic interneurons (CINs) and activation of nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs) in DA neuron (DAN) axons. The properties of this disynaptic mechanism of DA transmission are not well understood in the NAc shell. In this study, in vitro fast-scan cyclic voltammetry was used to examine the modulation of DA transmission evoked by CINs firing in the shell of mice and compared with other striatal regions. We found that DA signals in the shell displayed significant degree of summation in response to train stimulation of CINs, contrary to core and dorsal striatum. The summation was amplified by a D2-like receptor antagonist and experiments with mice with targeted deletion of D2 receptors to DANs or CINs revealed that D2 receptors in CINs mediate a fast inhibition observed within 100 ms of the first pulse, whereas D2 autoreceptors in DAN terminals are engaged in a slower inhibition that peaks at ∼500 ms. ACh also contributes to the use-dependent inhibition of DA release through muscarinic receptors only in the shell, where higher activity of acetylcholinesterase minimizes nAChR desensitization and promotes summation. These findings show that DA signals are modulated differentially by endogenous DA and ACh in the shell, which may underlie the unique features of shell DA signals in vivo SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The present study reports that dopamine (DA) release evoked by activation of cholinergic interneurons displays a high degree of summation in the shell and shows unique modulation by endogenous DA and acetylcholine. Desensitization of nicotinic receptors, which is a prevailing mechanism for use-dependent inhibition in the nucleus accumbens core and dorsal striatum, is also minimal in the shell in part due to elevated acetylcholinesterase activity. This distinctive modulation of DA transmission in the shell may have functional implications in the acquisition of reward-motivated behaviors and reward seeking. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/3711166-15$15.00/0.

Excessive disgust caused by brain lesions or temporary inactivations: mapping hotspots of the nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum.

PubMed

Ho, Chao-Yi; Berridge, Kent C

2014-11-01

Disgust is a prototypical type of negative affect. In animal models of excessive disgust, only a few brain sites are known in which localized dysfunction (lesions or neural inactivations) can induce intense 'disgust reactions' (e.g. gapes) to a normally pleasant sensation such as sweetness. Here, we aimed to map forebrain candidates more precisely, to identify where either local neuronal damage (excitotoxin lesions) or local pharmacological inactivation (muscimol/baclofen microinjections) caused rats to show excessive sensory disgust reactions to sucrose. Our study compared subregions of the nucleus accumbens shell, ventral pallidum, lateral hypothalamus, and adjacent extended amygdala. The results indicated that the posterior half of the ventral pallidum was the only forebrain site where intense sensory disgust gapes in response to sucrose were induced by both lesions and temporary inactivations (this site was previously identified as a hedonic hotspot for enhancements of sweetness 'liking'). By comparison, for the nucleus accumbens, temporary GABA inactivations in the caudal half of the medial shell also generated sensory disgust, but lesions never did at any site. Furthermore, even inactivations failed to induce disgust in the rostral half of the accumbens shell (which also contains a hedonic hotspot). In other structures, neither lesions nor inactivations induced disgust as long as the posterior ventral pallidum remained spared. We conclude that the posterior ventral pallidum is an especially crucial hotspot for producing excessive sensory disgust by local pharmacological/lesion dysfunction. By comparison, the nucleus accumbens appears to segregate sites for pharmacological disgust induction and hedonic enhancement into separate posterior and rostral halves of the medial shell. © 2014 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Lesions of the dopaminergic innervation of the nucleus accumbens medial shell delay the generation of preference for sucrose, but not of sexual pheromones.

PubMed

Martínez-Hernández, José; Lanuza, Enrique; Martínez-García, Fernando

2012-01-15

Male sexual pheromones are rewarding stimuli for female mice, able to induce conditioned place preference. To test whether processing these natural reinforcing stimuli depends on the dopaminergic innervation of the nucleus accumbens, as for other natural rewards, we compare the effects of specific lesions of the dopaminergic innervation of the medial shell of the nucleus accumbens on two different appetitive behaviours, 'pheromone seeking' and sucrose preferential intake. Female mice, with no previous experience with either adult male chemical stimuli or with sucrose, received injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (or vehicle) in the medial shell of the accumbens. Then, we analyzed their preference for male soiled-bedding and their preferential intake of a sucrose solution, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of acquisition of both natural rewards. The results indicate that both lesioned and sham animals showed similar preference for male sexual pheromones, which was constant along the test (linear dynamics). In contrast, lesioned animals differed from sham operated mice in the dynamics of sucrose consumption in their first test of sucrose preference. Sham animals showed an initial sucrose preference followed by preference for water, which can be interpreted as sucrose neophobia. Lesioned animals showed no preference at the beginning of the test, and a delayed sucrose preference appeared followed by a delayed neophobia. The next day, during a second sucrose-preference test, both groups displayed comparable and sustained preferential sucrose intake. Therefore, dopamine in the medial shell of the nucleus accumbens has a different role on the reward of sexual pheromones and sucrose. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Orexin in Rostral Hotspot of Nucleus Accumbens Enhances Sucrose ‘Liking' and Intake but Scopolamine in Caudal Shell Shifts ‘Liking' Toward ‘Disgust' and ‘Fear'

PubMed Central

Castro, Daniel C; Terry, Rachel A; Berridge, Kent C

2016-01-01

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) contains a hedonic hotspot in the rostral half of medial shell, where opioid agonist microinjections are known to enhance positive hedonic orofacial reactions to the taste of sucrose (‘liking' reactions). Within NAc shell, orexin/hypocretin also has been reported to stimulate food intake and is implicated in reward, whereas blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors by scopolamine suppresses intake and may have anti-reward effects. Here, we show that NAc microinjection of orexin-A in medial shell amplifies the hedonic impact of sucrose taste, but only within the same anatomically rostral site, identical to the opioid hotspot. By comparison, at all sites throughout medial shell, orexin microinjections stimulated ‘wanting' to eat, as reflected by increases in intake of palatable sweet chocolates. At NAc shell sites outside the hotspot, orexin selectively enhanced ‘wanting' to eat without enhancing sweetness ‘liking' reactions. In contrast, microinjections of the antagonist scopolamine at all sites in NAc shell suppressed sucrose ‘liking' reactions as well as suppressing intake of palatable food. Conversely, scopolamine increased aversive ‘disgust' reactions elicited by bitter quinine at all NAc shell sites. Finally, scopolamine microinjections localized to the caudal half of medial shell additionally generated a fear-related anti-predator reaction of defensive treading and burying directed toward the corners of the transparent chamber. Together, these results confirm a rostral hotspot in NAc medial shell as a unique site for orexin induction of hedonic ‘liking' enhancement, similar to opioid enhancement. They also reveal distinct roles for orexin and acetylcholine signals in NAc shell for hedonic reactions and motivated behaviors. PMID:26787120

Highlights of modern nuclear structure.

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

Daly, P. J.

1998-09-11

Excitations of nuclei close to magic {sup 132}Sn have been investigated by analysis of fission product {gamma}-ray data measured at Eurogam II using a {sup 248}Cm source. Results for the N=82 isotopes up to {sup 136}Xe, for the one proton-one neutron nucleus {sup 134}Sb, and for the N=84 isotones {sup 134}Sn. {sup 135}Sb, and {sup 136}Te are summarized. The interpretation of the observed level spectra is mainly based on shell model calculations using empirical proton-proton interactions from {sup 134}Te, neutron-neutron interactions from is {sup 134}Sn, and proton-neutron interactions estimated (with scaling as A{sup {minus}1/3}) from the well-known {sup 210}Bi spectrum.

Discrimination Between Closed and Open Shell (Turkish) Pistachio Nuts Using Undecimated Wavelet Packet Transform

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Due to low consumer acceptance and the possibility of immature kernels, closed-shell pistachio nuts should be separated from open-shell nuts before reaching the consumer. The feasibility of a system using impact acoustics as a means of classifying closed-shell nuts from open-shell nuts has already b...

Projected Shell Model Description of Positive Parity Band of 130Pr Nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Suram; Kumar, Amit; Singh, Dhanvir; Sharma, Chetan; Bharti, Arun; Bhat, G. H.; Sheikh, J. A.

2018-02-01

Theoretical investigation of positive parity yrast band of odd-odd 130Pr nucleus is performed by applying the projected shell model. The present study is undertaken to investigate and verify the very recently observed side band in 130Pr theoretically in terms of quasi-particle (qp) configuration. From the analysis of band diagram, the yrast as well as side band are found to arise from two-qp configuration πh 11/2 ⊗ νh 11/2. The present calculations are viewed to have qualitatively reproduced the known experimental data for yrast states, transition energies, and B( M1) / B( E2) ratios of this nucleus. The recently observed positive parity side band is also reproduced by the present calculations. The energy states of the side band are predicted up to spin 25+, which is far above the known experimental spin of 18+ and this could serve as a motivational factor for future experiments. In addition, the reduced transition probability B( E2) for interband transitions has also been calculated for the first time in projected shell model, which would serve as an encouragement for other research groups in the future.

Site-specific activation of dopamine and serotonin transmission by aniracetam in the mesocorticolimbic pathway of rats.

PubMed

Nakamura, K; Shirane, M; Koshikawa, N

2001-04-06

The effects of aniracetam on extracellular levels of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites were examined in five brain regions in freely moving stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) using in vivo microdialysis. Basal DA release in SHRSP was uniformly lower in all regions tested than that in age-matched control Wistar Kyoto rats. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels were altered in the basolateral amygdala, dorsal hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of SHRSP. While basal 5-HT release decreased in the striatum and increased in the basolateral amygdala, there was no associated change in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels. Systemic administration of aniracetam to SHRSP enhanced both DA and 5-HT release with partly associated change in their metabolite levels in the prefrontal cortex, basolateral amygdala and dorsal hippocampus, but not in the striatum and nucleus accumbens shell, in a dose-dependent manner (30 and/or 100 mg/kg p.o.). Microinjection (1 and 10 ng) of aniracetam or its metabolites (N-anisoyl-GABA and 2-pyrrolidinone) into the nucleus accumbens shell produced no turning behavior. These findings indicate that SHRSP have a dopaminergic hypofunction throughout the brain and that aniracetam elicits a site-specific activation in mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways in SHRSP, possibly via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the ventral tegmental area and raphe nuclei. The physiological roles in the aniracetam-sensitive brain regions may closely link with their clinical efficacy towards emotional disturbances appearing after cerebral infarction.

Coulomb Excitation of the N = 50 nucleus 80Zn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van de Walle, J.; Aksouh, F.; Ames, F.; Behrens, T.; Bildstein, V.; Blazhev, A.; Cederkäll, J.; Clément, E.; Cocolios, T. E.; Davinson, T.; Delahaye, P.; Eberth, J.; Ekström, A.; Fedorov, D. V.; Fedosseev, V. N.; Fraile, L. M.; Franchoo, S.; Gernhauser, R.; Georgiev, G.; Habs, D.; Heyde, K.; Huber, G.; Huyse, M.; Ibrahim, F.; Ivanov, O.; Iwanicki, J.; Jolie, J.; Kester, O.; Köster, U.; Kröll, T.; Krücken, R.; Lauer, M.; Lisetskiy, A. F.; Lutter, R.; Marsh, B. A.; Mayet, P.; Niedermaier, O.; Nilsson, T.; Pantea, M.; Perru, O.; Raabe, R.; Reiter, P.; Sawicka, M.; Scheit, H.; Schrieder, G.; Schwalm, D.; Seliverstov, M. D.; Sieber, T.; Sletten, G.; Smirnova, N.; Stanoiu, M.; Stefanescu, I.; Thomas, J.-C.; Valiente-Dobón, J. J.; van Duppen, P.; Verney, D.; Voulot, D.; Warr, N.; Weisshaar, D.; Wenander, F.; Wolf, B. H.; Zielińska, M.

2008-05-01

Neutron rich Zinc isotopes, including the N = 50 nucleus 80Zn, were produced and post-accelerated at the Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facility REX-ISOLDE (CERN). Low-energy Coulomb excitation was induced on these isotopes after post-acceleration, yielding B(E2) strengths to the first excited 2+ states. For the first time, an excited state in 80Zn was observed and the 21+ state in 78Zn was established. The measured B(E2,21+-->01+) values are compared to two sets of large scale shell model calculations. Both calculations reproduce the observed B(E2) systematics for the full Zinc isotopic chain. The results for N = 50 isotones indicate a good N = 50 shell closure and a strong Z = 28 proton core polarization. The new results serve as benchmarks to establish theoretical models, predicting the nuclear properties of the doubly magic nucleus 78Ni.

Reciprocal responsiveness of nucleus accumbens shell and core dopamine to food- and drug-conditioned stimuli.

PubMed

Bassareo, Valentina; Musio, Paolo; Di Chiara, Gaetano

2011-04-01

Drugs of abuse and palatable food share the ability to stimulate dopamine (DA) transmission in the nucleus accumbens shell. However, while the stimulation of shell DA by food undergoes habituation, that by drugs of abuse does not. This study aims to directly compare the changes of extracellular DA, by microdialysis, in shell and core and prefrontal cortex (PFCX) in response to food- and drug-conditioned stimuli (CSs). Rats were trace-conditioned by Fonzies box (FB) or vanilla box (VB; CS), followed by food: Fonzies, intraoral chocolate solution (food-unconditioned stimulus (US)) and morphine (1.0 mg/Kg sc; drug US). Control (unconditioned) rats received standard food instead of Fonzies, tap water instead of chocolate, saline instead of morphine. Food-CSs increased core but not shell DA, while drug-CSs did the opposite. Food and drug-CSs both increased PFCX DA. Exposure to food-CSs potentiated core and PFCX DA response to food while shell responsiveness was dependent upon the relative CS and US nature. If the CS was intrinsic to the food US (CS = FB/US = Fonzies) the response of shell DA to the US was abolished. If the CS was extrinsic to the food US (CS = FB/US = chocolate; CS = VB/US = Fonzies), shell DA increased in response to the US. Exposure to the drug-CS potentiated the DA response to the drug-US in the shell and in the PFCX, but not in the core. Drug-CSs differentially activate DA as compared to food-CSs in shell and core and differentially affect DA response to the US in these areas. These differences might be relevant for the role of DA in the mechanism of drug addiction.

Distribution of zebrin-immunoreactive Purkinje cell terminals in the cerebellar and vestibular nuclei of birds.

PubMed

Wylie, Douglas R; Pakan, Janelle M P; Huynh, Hang; Graham, David J; Iwaniuk, Andrew N

2012-05-01

Zebrin II (aldolase C) is expressed in a subset of Purkinje cells in the mammalian and avian cerebella such that there is a characteristic parasagittal organization of zebrin-immunopositive stripes alternating with zebrin-immunonegative stripes. Zebrin is expressed not only in the soma and dendrites of Purkinje cells but also in their axonal terminals. Here we describe the distribution of zebrin immunoreactivity in both the vestibular and the cerebellar nuclei of pigeons (Columba livia) and hummingbirds (Calypte anna, Selasphorus rufus). In the medial cerebellar nucleus, zebrin-positive labeling was particularly heavy in the “shell,” whereas the “core” was zebrin negative. In the lateral cerebellar nucleus, labeling was not as heavy, but a positive shell and negative core were also observed. In the vestibular nuclear complex, zebrin-positive terminal labeling was heavy in the dorsolateral vestibular nucleus and the lateral margin of the superior vestibular nucleus. The central and medial regions of the superior nucleus were generally zebrin negative. Labeling was moderate to heavy in the medial vestibular nucleus, particulary the rostral half of the parvocellular subnucleus. A moderate amount of zebrin-positive labeling was present in the descending vestibular nucleus: this was heaviest laterally, and the central region was generally zebrin negative. Zebrin-positive terminals were also observed in the the cerebellovestibular process, prepositus hypoglossi, and lateral tangential nucleus. We discuss our findings in light of similar studies in rats and with respect to the corticonuclear projections to the cerebellar nuclei and the functional connections of the vestibulocerebellum with the vestibular nuclei. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Nucleus Accumbens Shell Dopamine Preferentially Tracks Information Related to Outcome Value of Reward.

PubMed

Sackett, Deirdre A; Saddoris, Michael P; Carelli, Regina M

2017-01-01

Effective decision-making requires organisms to predict reward values and bias behavior toward the best available option. The mesolimbic dopamine system, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core, is involved in this process. Although studies support a role of the shell and core in specific aspects of decision-making (e.g., risk, effort, delay), no studies have directly compared dopamine release dynamics in these subregions to cues exclusively signaling the availability of different reward magnitudes. Here, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry was used to compare rapid dopamine release dynamics in the NAc subregions during a magnitude-based decision-making task. Rats learned that distinct cues signaled the availability of either a small or large reward (one or two sugar pellets), and then were given an opportunity to choose their preferred option. We found that peak dopamine release tracked the more preferred (higher-magnitude) option in both core and shell subregions. Critically, however, overall (i.e., global) dopamine release was significantly higher and longer lasting in the shell and tracked the preferred magnitude during the entire cue period. Further, in the shell (not core), dopamine signaling significantly declined immediately at the lever press for reward but increased during the period of reward consumption. Collectively, the results indicate that although dopamine release in both the core and shell are activated by cues signaling the opportunity to respond for rewards of different magnitudes, dopamine release in the shell plays a differential and unique role in tracking information related to the outcome value of reward.

Assessing Contributions of Nucleus Accumbens Shell Subregions to Reward-Seeking Behavior

PubMed Central

Reed, Michael D.; Hildebrand, David G. C.; Santangelo, Gabrielle; Moffa, Anthony; Pira, Ashley S.; Rycyna, Lisa; Radic, Mia; Price, Katherine; Archbold, Jonathan; McConnell, Kristi; Girard, Lauren; Morin, Kristen; Tang, Anna; Febo, Marcelo; Stellar, James R.

2015-01-01

Background The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a key role in brain reward processes including drug seeking and reinstatement. Several anatomical, behavioral, and neurochemical studies discriminate between the limbic-associated shell and the motor-associated core regions. Less studied is the fact that the shell can be further subdivided into a dorsomedial shell (NAcDMS) and an intermediate zone (NAcINT) based on differential expression of transient c-Fos and long-acting immediate-early gene ΔFosB upon cocaine sensitization. These disparate expression patterns suggest that NAc shell subregions may play distinct roles in reward-seeking behavior. In this study, we examined potential differences in the contributions of the NAcDMS and the NAcINT to reinstatement of reward-seeking behavior after extinction. Methods Rats were trained to intravenously self-administer cocaine, extinguished, and subjected to a reinstatement test session consisting of either an intracranial microinfusion of amphetamine or vehicle targeted to the NAcDMS or the NAcINT. Results Small amphetamine microinfusions targeted to the NAcDMS resulted in statistically significant reinstatement of lever pressing, whereas no statistical difference was observed for microinfusions targeted to the NAcINT. No significant difference was found for vehicle microinfusions in either case. Conclusion These results suggest heterogeneity in the behavioral relevance of NAc shell subregions, a possibility that can be tested in specific neuronal populations in the future with recently developed techniques including optogenetics. PMID:26048642

CONCERNING THE PROBLEM OF THE SYSTEMATIZATION OF $beta$ SPECTRA

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

Seidl, R.

1956-01-01

S>From data on the energy liberated during KB capture or ing BETA decay, the problem of the construction of a shell model of the nucleus is considered. It is proposed at the BETA transition is carried out by the last particle in the shell. The neutron and proton levels are considered individually. It is stated, that on the basis of the data on topes and the values of the nuclear spins. To obtain agreement with the nuclear binding energies and the data on nuclear reactions, it becomes necessary to propose that the transition of each nucleon causes a lowering ofmore » the bottom of the potentisl well of the nucleus.« less

Modulation of Memory Consolidation by the Basolateral Amygdala or Nucleus Accumbens Shell Requires Concurrent Dopamine Receptor Activation in Both Brain Regions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaLumiere, Ryan T.; Nawar, Erene M.; McGaugh, James L.

2005-01-01

Previous findings indicate that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) interact in influencing memory consolidation. The current study investigated whether this interaction requires concurrent dopamine (DA) receptor activation in both brain regions. Unilateral, right-side cannulae were implanted into the BLA and the…

Sex differences in neurotensin and substance P following nicotine self-administration in rats.

PubMed

Pittenger, Steven T; Swalve, Natashia; Chou, Shinnyi; Smith, Misty D; Hoonakker, Amanda J; Pudiak, Cindy M; Fleckenstein, Annette E; Hanson, Glen R; Bevins, Rick A

2016-08-01

Investigator-administered nicotine alters neurotensin and substance P levels in Sprague-Dawley rats. This finding suggested a role of the dopamine-related endogenous neuropeptides in nicotine addiction. We sought to extend this observation by determining the responses of neurotensin and substance P systems (assessed using radioimmunoassay) in male and female rats following nicotine self-administration (SA). Male and female Sprague-Dawley were trained to self-administer nicotine, or receive saline infusions yoked to a nicotine-administering rat during daily sessions (1-h; 21 days). Brains were extracted 3 h after the last SA session. Nicotine SA increased tissue levels of neurotensin in the males in the anterior and posterior caudate, globus pallidus, frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens core and shell, and ventral tegmental area. Nicotine SA also increased tissue levels of neurotensin in the females in the anterior caudate, globus pallidus, nucleus accumbens core and shell, but not in the posterior caudate, frontal cortex, or ventral tegmental area. There were fewer sex differences observed in the substance P systems. Nicotine SA increased tissue levels of substance P in both the males and females in the posterior caudate, globus pallidus, frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens shell, and ventral tegmental area. A sex difference was observed in the nucleus accumbens core, where nicotine SA increased tissue levels of substance P in the males, yet decreased levels in the females. The regulation of neuropeptides following nicotine SA may play a role in the susceptibility to nicotine dependence in females and males. Synapse 70:336-346, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Individual Differences in Dopamine Efflux in Nucleus Accumbens Shell and Core during Instrumental Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Jingjun; Feenstra, Matthijs G. P.

2006-01-01

Combined activation of dopamine D1- and NMDA-glutamate receptors in the nucleus accumbens has been strongly implicated in instrumental learning, the process in which an individual learns that a specific action has a wanted outcome. To assess dopaminergic activity, we presented rats with two sessions (30 trials each) of a one-lever appetitive…

Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell Differentially Encode Reward-Associated Cues after Reinforcer Devaluation

PubMed Central

West, Elizabeth A.

2016-01-01

Nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons encode features of stimulus learning and action selection associated with rewards. The NAc is necessary for using information about expected outcome values to guide behavior after reinforcer devaluation. Evidence suggests that core and shell subregions may play dissociable roles in guiding motivated behavior. Here, we recorded neural activity in the NAc core and shell during training and performance of a reinforcer devaluation task. Long–Evans male rats were trained that presses on a lever under an illuminated cue light delivered a flavored sucrose reward. On subsequent test days, each rat was given free access to one of two distinctly flavored foods to consume to satiation and were then immediately tested on the lever pressing task under extinction conditions. Rats decreased pressing on the test day when the reinforcer earned during training was the sated flavor (devalued) compared with the test day when the reinforcer was not the sated flavor (nondevalued), demonstrating evidence of outcome-selective devaluation. Cue-selective encoding during training by NAc core (but not shell) neurons reliably predicted subsequent behavioral performance; that is, the greater the percentage of neurons that responded to the cue, the better the rats suppressed responding after devaluation. In contrast, NAc shell (but not core) neurons significantly decreased cue-selective encoding in the devalued condition compared with the nondevalued condition. These data reveal that NAc core and shell neurons encode information differentially about outcome-specific cues after reinforcer devaluation that are related to behavioral performance and outcome value, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Many neuropsychiatric disorders are marked by impairments in behavioral flexibility. Although the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is required for behavioral flexibility, it is not known how NAc neurons encode this information. Here, we recorded NAc neurons during a training session in which rats learned that a cue predicted a specific reward and during a test session when that reward value was changed. Although encoding in the core during training predicted the ability of rats to change behavior after the reward value was altered, the NAc shell encoded information about the change in reward value during the test session. These findings suggest differential roles of the core and shell in behavioral flexibility. PMID:26818502

Persistence of the Z =28 Shell Gap Around 78Ni: First Spectroscopy of 79Cu

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olivier, L.; Franchoo, S.; Niikura, M.; Vajta, Z.; Sohler, D.; Doornenbal, P.; Obertelli, A.; Tsunoda, Y.; Otsuka, T.; Authelet, G.; Baba, H.; Calvet, D.; Château, F.; Corsi, A.; Delbart, A.; Gheller, J.-M.; Gillibert, A.; Isobe, T.; Lapoux, V.; Matsushita, M.; Momiyama, S.; Motobayashi, T.; Otsu, H.; Péron, C.; Peyaud, A.; Pollacco, E. C.; Roussé, J.-Y.; Sakurai, H.; Santamaria, C.; Sasano, M.; Shiga, Y.; Takeuchi, S.; Taniuchi, R.; Uesaka, T.; Wang, H.; Yoneda, K.; Browne, F.; Chung, L. X.; Dombradi, Z.; Flavigny, F.; Giacoppo, F.; Gottardo, A.; Hadyńska-Klek, K.; Korkulu, Z.; Koyama, S.; Kubota, Y.; Lee, J.; Lettmann, M.; Louchart, C.; Lozeva, R.; Matsui, K.; Miyazaki, T.; Nishimura, S.; Ogata, K.; Ota, S.; Patel, Z.; Sahin, E.; Shand, C.; Söderström, P.-A.; Stefan, I.; Steppenbeck, D.; Sumikama, T.; Suzuki, D.; Werner, V.; Wu, J.; Xu, Z.

2017-11-01

In-beam γ -ray spectroscopy of 79Cu is performed at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of RIKEN. The nucleus of interest is produced through proton knockout from a 80Zn beam at 270 MeV /nucleon . The level scheme up to 4.6 MeV is established for the first time and the results are compared to Monte Carlo shell-model calculations. We do not observe significant knockout feeding to the excited states below 2.2 MeV, which indicates that the Z =28 gap at N =50 remains large. The results show that the 79Cu nucleus can be described in terms of a valence proton outside a 78Ni core, implying the magic character of the latter.

Cross-shell excitations from the f p shell: Lifetime measurements in 61Zn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Queiser, M.; Vogt, A.; Seidlitz, M.; Reiter, P.; Togashi, T.; Shimizu, N.; Utsuno, Y.; Otsuka, T.; Honma, M.; Petkov, P.; Arnswald, K.; Altenkirch, R.; Birkenbach, B.; Blazhev, A.; Braunroth, T.; Dewald, A.; Eberth, J.; Fransen, C.; Fu, B.; Hess, H.; Hetzenegger, R.; Hirsch, R.; Jolie, J.; Karayonchev, V.; Kaya, L.; Lewandowski, L.; Müller-Gatermann, C.; Régis, J.-M.; Rosiak, D.; Schneiders, D.; Siebeck, B.; Steinbach, T.; Wolf, K.; Zell, K.-O.

2017-10-01

Lifetimes of excited states in the neutron-deficient nucleus 61Zn were measured employing the recoil-distance Doppler-shift (RDDS) and the electronic fast-timing methods at the University of Cologne. The nucleus of interest was populated as an evaporation residue in 40Ca(24Mg,n 2 p )61Zn and 58Ni(α ,n )61Zn reactions at 67 and 19 MeV, respectively. Five lifetimes were measured for the first time, including the lifetime of the 5 /21- isomer at 124 keV. Short lifetimes from the RDDS analysis are corrected for Doppler-shift attenuation (DSA) in the target and stopper foils. Ambiguous observations in previous measurements were resolved. The obtained lifetimes are compared to predictions from different sets of shell-model calculations in the f p , f5 /2p g9 /2 , and multishell f p -g9 /2d5 /2 model spaces. The band built on the 9 /21+ state exhibits a prolate deformation with β ≈0.24 . Especially, the inclusion of cross-shell excitation into the 1 d5 /2 orbital is found to be decisive for the description of collectivity in the first excited positive-parity band.

Assessing contributions of nucleus accumbens shell subregions to reward-seeking behavior.

PubMed

Reed, Michael D; Hildebrand, David G C; Santangelo, Gabrielle; Moffa, Anthony; Pira, Ashley S; Rycyna, Lisa; Radic, Mia; Price, Katherine; Archbold, Jonathan; McConnell, Kristi; Girard, Lauren; Morin, Kristen; Tang, Anna; Febo, Marcelo; Stellar, James R

2015-08-01

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a key role in brain reward processes including drug seeking and reinstatement. Several anatomical, behavioral, and neurochemical studies discriminate between the limbic-associated shell and the motor-associated core regions. Less studied is the fact that the shell can be further subdivided into a dorsomedial shell (NAcDMS) and an intermediate zone (NAcINT) based on differential expression of transient c-Fos and long-acting immediate-early gene ΔFosB upon cocaine sensitization. These disparate expression patterns suggest that NAc shell subregions may play distinct roles in reward-seeking behavior. In this study, we examined potential differences in the contributions of the NAcDMS and the NAcINT to reinstatement of reward-seeking behavior after extinction. Rats were trained to intravenously self-administer cocaine, extinguished, and subjected to a reinstatement test session consisting of an intracranial microinfusion of either amphetamine or vehicle targeted to the NAcDMS or the NAcINT. Small amphetamine microinfusions targeted to the NAcDMS resulted in statistically significant reinstatement of lever pressing, whereas no significant difference was observed for microinfusions targeted to the NAcINT. No significant difference was found for vehicle microinfusions in either case. These results suggest heterogeneity in the behavioral relevance of NAc shell subregions, a possibility that can be tested in specific neuronal populations in the future with recently developed techniques including optogenetics. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Deep Brain Stimulation Reveals a Dissociation of Consummatory and Motivated Behaviour in the Medial and Lateral Nucleus Accumbens Shell of the Rat

PubMed Central

van der Plasse, Geoffrey; Schrama, Regina; van Seters, Sebastiaan P.; Vanderschuren, Louk J. M. J.

2012-01-01

Following the successful application of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and promising results in clinical trials for obsessive compulsive disorder and major depression, DBS is currently being tested in small patient-populations with eating disorders and addiction. However, in spite of its potential use in a broad spectrum of disorders, the mechanisms of action of DBS remain largely unclear and optimal neural targets for stimulation in several disorders have yet to be established. Thus, there is a great need to examine site-specific effects of DBS on a behavioural level and to understand how DBS may modulate pathological behaviour. In view of the possible application of DBS in the treatment of disorders characterized by impaired processing of reward and motivation, like addiction and eating disorders, we examined the effect of DBS of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) on food-directed behavior. Rats were implanted with bilateral stimulation electrodes in one of three anatomically and functionally distinct sub-areas of the NAcc: the core, lateral shell (lShell) and medial shell (mShell). Subsequently, we studied the effects of DBS on food consumption, and the motivational and appetitive properties of food. The data revealed a functional dissociation between the lShell and mShell. DBS of the lShell reduced motivation to respond for sucrose under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, mShell DBS, however, profoundly and selectively increased the intake of chow. DBS of the NAcc core did not alter any form of food-directed behavior studied. DBS of neither structure affected sucrose preference. These data indicate that the intake of chow and the motivation to work for palatable food can independently be modulated by DBS of subregions of the NAcc shell. As such, these findings provide important leads for the possible future application of DBS as a treatment for eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa. PMID:22428054

Deep brain stimulation reveals a dissociation of consummatory and motivated behaviour in the medial and lateral nucleus accumbens shell of the rat.

PubMed

van der Plasse, Geoffrey; Schrama, Regina; van Seters, Sebastiaan P; Vanderschuren, Louk J M J; Westenberg, Herman G M

2012-01-01

Following the successful application of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and promising results in clinical trials for obsessive compulsive disorder and major depression, DBS is currently being tested in small patient-populations with eating disorders and addiction. However, in spite of its potential use in a broad spectrum of disorders, the mechanisms of action of DBS remain largely unclear and optimal neural targets for stimulation in several disorders have yet to be established. Thus, there is a great need to examine site-specific effects of DBS on a behavioural level and to understand how DBS may modulate pathological behaviour. In view of the possible application of DBS in the treatment of disorders characterized by impaired processing of reward and motivation, like addiction and eating disorders, we examined the effect of DBS of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) on food-directed behavior. Rats were implanted with bilateral stimulation electrodes in one of three anatomically and functionally distinct sub-areas of the NAcc: the core, lateral shell (lShell) and medial shell (mShell). Subsequently, we studied the effects of DBS on food consumption, and the motivational and appetitive properties of food. The data revealed a functional dissociation between the lShell and mShell. DBS of the lShell reduced motivation to respond for sucrose under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, mShell DBS, however, profoundly and selectively increased the intake of chow. DBS of the NAcc core did not alter any form of food-directed behavior studied. DBS of neither structure affected sucrose preference. These data indicate that the intake of chow and the motivation to work for palatable food can independently be modulated by DBS of subregions of the NAcc shell. As such, these findings provide important leads for the possible future application of DBS as a treatment for eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa.

Gene transcripts selectively down-regulated in the shell of the nucleus accumbens long after heroin self-administration are up-regulated in the core independent of response contingency.

PubMed

Jacobs, Edwin H; de Vries, Taco J; Smit, August B; Schoffelmeer, Anton N M

2004-01-01

Long-term drug-induced alterations in neurotransmission within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core may underlie relapse to drug-seeking behavior and drug-taking upon re-exposure to drugs and drug-associated stimuli (cues) during abstinence. Using an open screening strategy, we recently identified 25 gene transcripts, encoding for proteins involved in neuronal functioning and structure that are down-regulated in rat NAc shell after contingent (active), but not after non-contingent (passive), heroin administration. Studying the expression of the same transcripts in the NAc core by means of quantitative PCR, we now demonstrate that most of these transcripts are up-regulated in that NAc subregion long (3 weeks) after heroin self-administration in rats. A similar up-regulation in gene expression was also apparent in the NAc core of animals with a history of non-contingent heroin administration (yoked controls). These data indicate that heroin self-administration differentially regulates genes in the NAc core as compared with the shell. Moreover, whereas cognitive processes involved in active drug self-administration (e.g., instrumental learning) seems to direct gene expression in the NAc shell, neuroplasticity in the NAc core may be due to the pharmacological effects of heroin (including Pavlovian conditioning), as expressed in rats upon contingent as well as non-contingent administration of heroin.

Synergistic effect between D-AP5 and muscimol in the nucleus accumbens shell on memory consolidation deficit in adult male Wistar rats: An isobologram analysis.

PubMed

Nasehi, Mohammad; Ostadi, Elaheh; Khakpai, Fatemeh; Ebrahimi-Ghiri, Mohaddeseh; Zarrindast, Mohammad-Reza

2017-05-01

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) glutamatergic and GABAergic systems are involved in memory processes. This study was investigated the involvement of NAc shell GABAergic system on D-AP5 induced memory consolidation deficit. The elevated plus-maze (EPM) test-retest paradigm was employed to assess memory in adult male Wistar rats. The results indicated that post-training intra-NAc shell injection of bicuculline (GABA A receptor antagonist) did not alter emotional memory consolidation. However, post-training intra-NAc shell microinjection of muscimol (GABA A receptor agonist, 0.1μg/rat) and D-AP5 (a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, 4μg/rat) decreased emotional memory consolidation, suggesting the drugs induced amnesia. Moreover, a sub-threshold dose of muscimol (0.05μg/rat) potentiated the D-AP5 (2μg/rat) response on memory consolidation impairment. On the other hand, the middle dose of bicuculline (0.25μg/rat) reversed memory impairment induced by D-AP5 at the higher dose. Interestingly, there is a synergistic effect between D-AP5 and muscimol on impairment of emotional memory consolidation. None of the above doses changed the locomotor activity. Our results suggest that the glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons of the NAc shell interact with each other for modulation of emotional memory consolidation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Accumbens Shell AMPA Receptors Mediate Expression of Extinguished Reward Seeking through Interactions with Basolateral Amygdala

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Millan, E. Zayra; McNally, Gavan P.

2011-01-01

Extinction is the reduction in drug seeking when the contingency between drug seeking behavior and the delivery of drug reward is broken. Here, we investigated a role for the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). Rats were trained to respond for 4% (v/v) alcoholic beer in one context (Context A) followed by extinction in a second context (Context B).…

PREFACE: New nuclear structure phenomena in the vicinity of closed shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, A.; Wyss, R.

1995-01-01

The proceedings of the international symposium on "New Nuclear Structure Phenomena in the Vicinity of Closed Shells - SELMA 94", held in Stockholm, Uppsala and on the Baltic Sea from Aug. 30 - Sep. 3 are collected in this volume. Since almost 40% of the session time was kept open for discussions, it is difficult to give full justice to the character of the meeting in a written report. However, since also many posters are presented in this volume, we hope that some of the flavour of this lively symposium will pass onto the reader. We have chosen to group related contributions in order to facilitate the reading. Several articles, though, may fit into several categories. With the event of large detector arrays there has been a tremendous development in the field of nuclear spectroscopy. The discovery of super-deformation has been followed by detailed spectroscopy in the second well. Hence, the concept of shell closure is reinterpreted in general terms, involving shapes different from spherical. Close to the drip lines, we expect new shells and new structure effects to emerge. Loosely bound neutrons may form a new state of nuclear matter. The regions of the nuclear chart far from the line of stability can be explored in the future by means of radioactive ion beams. New structure effects, that one might encounter far from the line of stability was one of the themes of this conference. The strong impact of the nuclear shell model is also evident in other branches of physics, like the structure of metal-clusters. Special attention was paid to the Sn-isotopes. In the Sn-isotopic chain, spectroscopic measurements are extending beyond the doubly-magic nucleus 132Sn. Large efforts have recently been made to study nuclei in the vicinity of the doubly-magic nucleus 100Sn, the other extreme end of the chain. Spectroscopic data on 100Sn would open the entire shell for nuclear structure studies, ranging over a number of 32 neutrons. During the organization of this meeting, the first 100Sn nuclei were observed at GSI, Germany, and in a subsequent experiment at GANIL, France. Results from these experiments were reported during the symposium as were much of the recent data around "classical" shell model nuclei. Neutron deficient nuclei in the Sn region show a variety of phenomena, such as coexisting shapes, enhanced quadrupole transitions etc. The role of intruder states in this mass region as well as the excitation pattern is still a puzzle for experimentalists and theoreticians and was discussed during the meeting. More work is needed until a unified picture of the structure of these nuclei will emerge. The combination of powerful mean-field models, large scale shell model calculations as well as new algebraic approaches to nuclear structure shows the strong and lively development in the field of nuclear theory as was evident from the presentations. It is obvious that great effort is needed to match the rapid development in the field of experimental nuclear structure. The organizing committee expresses special thanks to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, through its Nobel Institute for Physics, for its generous support. We also want to thank the Royal Institute of Technology and Uppsala University for supporting this symposium. All this support was extremely essential for organizing the meeting as well as for rendering it success. We are very pleased about the possibility to print the proceedings of this meeting in Physics Scripta and thank their staff for helpful collaboration. Thanks also to the international advisory committee for its helpful work to select speakers and for suggestions. Conference secretary Inger Ericson's assistance during the meeting as well as the work of the organizing committee is highly appreciated. Finally, we like to thank all speakers and participants for making this symposium extremely lively and exciting. Last but not least: this symposium got its name from little Selma, born 19 January 1994, daughter of A Atac and J Nyberg.

Chemogenetic Activation of an Extinction Neural Circuit Reduces Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking.

PubMed

Augur, Isabel F; Wyckoff, Andrew R; Aston-Jones, Gary; Kalivas, Peter W; Peters, Jamie

2016-09-28

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) has been shown to negatively regulate cocaine-seeking behavior, but the precise conditions by which vmPFC activity can be exploited to reduce cocaine relapse are currently unknown. We used viral-mediated gene transfer of designer receptors (DREADDs) to activate vmPFC neurons and examine the consequences on cocaine seeking in a rat self-administration model of relapse. Activation of vmPFC neurons with the Gq-DREADD reduced reinstatement of cocaine seeking elicited by cocaine-associated cues, but not by cocaine itself. We used a retro-DREADD approach to confine the Gq-DREADD to vmPFC neurons that project to the medial nucleus accumbens shell, confirming that these neurons are responsible for the decreased cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking. The effects of vmPFC activation on cue-induced reinstatement depended on prior extinction training, consistent with the reported role of this structure in extinction memory. These data help define the conditions under which chemogenetic activation of extinction neural circuits can be exploited to reduce relapse triggered by reminder cues. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) projection to the nucleus accumbens shell is important for extinction of cocaine seeking, but its anatomical proximity to the relapse-promoting projection from the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex to the nucleus accumbens core makes it difficult to selectively enhance neuronal activity in one pathway or the other using traditional pharmacotherapy (e.g., systemically administered drugs). Viral-mediated gene delivery of an activating Gq-DREADD to vmPFC and/or vmPFC projections to the nucleus accumbens shell allows the chemogenetic exploitation of this extinction neural circuit to reduce cocaine seeking and was particularly effective against relapse triggered by cocaine reminder cues. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/3610174-07$15.00/0.

Nucleus accumbens shell excitability is decreased by methamphetamine self-administration and increased by 5-HT2C receptor inverse agonism and agonism

PubMed Central

Graves, Steven M.; Clark, Mary J.; Traynor, John R.; Hu, Xiu-Ti; Napier, T. Celeste

2014-01-01

Methamphetamine profoundly increases brain monoamines and is a widely abused psychostimulant. The effects of methamphetamine self-administration on neuron function are not known for the nucleus accumbens, a brain region involved in addictive behaviors, including drug-seeking. One therapeutic target showing preclinical promise at attenuating psychostimulant-seeking is 5-HT2C receptors; however, the effects of 5-HT2C receptor ligands on neuronal physiology are unclear. 5-HT2C receptor agonism decreases psychostimulant-mediated behaviors, and the putative 5-HT2C receptor inverse agonist, SB 206553, attenuates methamphetamine-seeking in rats. To ascertain the effects of methamphetamine, and 5-HT2C receptor inverse agonism and agonism, on neuronal function in the nucleus accumbens, we evaluated methamphetamine, SB 206553, and the 5-HT2C receptor agonist and Ro 60-0175, on neuronal excitability within the accumbens shell subregion using whole-cell current-clamp recordings in forebrain slices ex vivo. We reveal that methamphetamine self-administration decreased generation of evoked action potentials. In contrast, SB 206553 and Ro 60-0175 increased evoked spiking, effects that were prevented by the 5-HT2C receptor antagonist, SB 242084. We also assessed signaling mechanisms engaged by 5-HT2C receptors, and determined that accumbal 5-HT2C receptors stimulated Gq, but not Gi/o. These findings demonstrate that methamphetamine-induced decreases in excitability of neurons within the nucleus accumbens shell were abrogated by both 5-HT2C inverse agonism and agonism, and this effect likely involved activation of Gq–mediated signaling pathways. PMID:25229719

Gamma Strength Functions and Level Densities from 300 MeV Proton Scatttering at 0°

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Neumann-Cosel, Peter; Bassauer, Sergej; Martin, Dirk

The gamma strength function (GSF) as well as total level densities (LDs) in 208Pb and 96Mo were extracted from high-resolution forward angle inelastic proton scattering data taken at RCNP, Osaka, Japan, and compared to experimental results obtained with the Oslo method in order to test the validity of the Brink-Axel (BA) hypothesis in the energy region of the pygmy dipole resonance. The case of 208Pb is inconclusive because of strong fluctuations of the GSF due to the small level density in a doubly closed-shell nucleus. In 96Mo the data are consistent with the BA hypothesis. The good agreement of LDs provides an independent confirmation of the approach underlying the decomposition of GSF and LDs in Oslo-type experiments.

Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonism attenuates neuronal activity triggered by stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking.

PubMed

Schank, J R; Nelson, B S; Damadzic, R; Tapocik, J D; Yao, M; King, C E; Rowe, K E; Cheng, K; Rice, K C; Heilig, M

2015-12-01

Substance P (SP) and its cognate neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) are involved in alcohol-related behaviors. We have previously reported that NK1R antagonism attenuates stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking and suppresses escalated alcohol self-administration, but does not affect primary reinforcement or cue-induced reinstatement. Here, we administered an NK1R antagonist or vehicle prior to footshock-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking, and mapped the resulting neuronal activation using Fos immunohistochemistry. As expected, vehicle treated animals exposed to footshock showed induction of Fos immunoreactivity in several regions of the brain stress circuitry, including the amygdala (AMG), nucleus accumbens (NAC), dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). NK1R antagonism selectively suppressed the stress-induced increase in Fos in the DR and NAC shell. In the DR, Fos-induction by stress largely overlapped with tryptophan hydroxylase (TrpH), indicating activation of serotonergic neurons. Of NAC shell neurons activated during stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking, about 30% co-expressed dynorphin (DYN), while 70% co-expressed enkephalin (ENK). Few (<1%) activated NAC shell neurons coexpressed choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), which labels the cholinergic interneurons of this region. Infusion of the NK1R antagonist L822429 into the NAC shell blocked stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. In contrast, L822429 infusion into the DR had no effect, suggesting that the influence of NK1R signaling on neuronal activity in the DR is indirect. Taken together, our results outline a potential pathway through which endogenous NK1R activation mediates stress-induced alcohol seeking. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electrolytic lesions of a discrete area within the nucleus accumbens shell attenuate the long-term expression, but not early phase, of sensitization to cocaine.

PubMed

Brenhouse, Heather C; Montalto, Stefanie; Stellar, James R

2006-06-30

Repeated exposure to cocaine leads to behavioral sensitization, which is the augmentation of the locomotor response to a subsequent exposure to the drug. The nucleus accumbens (NAc), a major termination site of dopaminergic neurons, is believed to be involved in behavioral sensitization and studies have demonstrated that the NAc shell can be split into five zones of analysis; the vertex, arch, cone, intermediate and ventrolateral zones [Todtenkopf MS, Stellar JR. Assessment of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive innervation in five subregions of the nucleus accumbens shell in rats treated with repeated cocaine. Synapse 2000;38:261-70]. Several reports show cocaine-induced c-fos expression particularly in the intermediate zone after 14, but not 2, drug-free days following repeated cocaine administration, suggesting that this region may be involved in sensitization and particularly in the later phase of expression, versus the earlier phase of sensitization. Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the intermediate zone were made in two groups of rats, which were then repeatedly exposed to cocaine (15 mg/kg, twice/day for 5 days). One group was subsequently given a single cocaine challenge injection (15 mg/kg) after 14 drug-free days, while the other group was challenged after only 2 drug-free days. Two sham surgery groups in which an electrode was lowered but no current was passed served as controls. Results show that lesioned animals as well as sham controls exhibited behavioral sensitization to the drug. However, following a 14-day drug-free period, the lesioned animals showed significant reduction in sensitization, compared to sham controls. Together these findings suggest that the intermediate zone of the NAc shell is indeed involved in the expression phase of behavioral sensitization to cocaine.

Role of projections from ventral subiculum to nucleus accumbens shell in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats.

PubMed

Bossert, Jennifer M; Adhikary, Sweta; St Laurent, Robyn; Marchant, Nathan J; Wang, Hui-Ling; Morales, Marisela; Shaham, Yavin

2016-05-01

In humans, exposure to contexts previously associated with heroin use can provoke relapse. In rats, exposure to heroin-paired contexts after extinction of drug-reinforced responding in different contexts reinstates heroin seeking. We previously demonstrated that the projections from ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) to nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell play a role in this reinstatement. The ventral subiculum (vSub) sends glutamate projections to NAc shell and vmPFC. Here, we determined whether these projections contribute to context-induced reinstatement. We trained rats to self-administer heroin (0.05-0.1 mg/kg/infusion) for 3 h per day for 12 days; drug infusions were paired with a discrete tone-light cue. Lever pressing in the presence of the discrete cue was subsequently extinguished in a different context. We then tested the rats for reinstatement in the heroin- and extinction-associated contexts under extinction conditions. We combined Fos with the retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold (FG) to determine projection-specific activation during the context-induced reinstatement tests. We also used anatomical disconnection procedures to determine whether the vSub → NAc shell and vSub → vmPFC projections are functionally involved in this reinstatement. Exposure to the heroin but not the extinction context reinstated lever pressing. Context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking was associated with increased Fos expression in vSub neurons, including those projecting to NAc shell and vmPFC. Anatomical disconnection of the vSub → NAc shell projection, but not the vSub → vmPFC projection, decreased this reinstatement. Our data indicate that the vSub → NAc shell glutamatergic projection, but not the vSub → vmPFC projection, contributes to context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking.

Fluoxetine Alleviates Behavioral Depression while Decreasing Acetylcholine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell

PubMed Central

Chau, David T; Rada, Pedro V; Kim, Kay; Kosloff, Rebecca A; Hoebel, Bartley G

2011-01-01

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, have demonstrated the ability to alleviate behavioral depression in the forced swim test; however, the sites and mechanisms of their actions remain to be further elucidated. Previous studies have suggested that behavioral depression in the swim test is mediated in part by acetylcholine (ACh) stimulating the cholinergic M1 receptors in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell. The current study tested whether acute, local, and chronic, subcutaneous fluoxetine treatments increase escape motivation during the swim test while simultaneously lowering extracellular ACh in the NAc shell. Experiment 1: Fluoxetine (1.0 mM) infused unilaterally in the NAc shell for 40 min reduced extracellular ACh while simultaneously increasing swimming time. Experiment 2: Fluoxetine (0.2, 0.5, and 0.75 mM) infused bilaterally in the NAc shell on day 3 dose-dependently decreased immobility and increased the total escape attempts (swimming and climbing) compared with Ringer given on day 2. Experiment 3: Fluoxetine (0.5 mM) infused bilaterally in the NAc for 40 min did not affect activities in an open field. Experiment 4: Chronic systemic fluoxetine treatment decreased immobility scores and increased total escape attempt scores compared with control saline treatment. In all, 14 days after the initial swim test, basal extracellular ACh in the shell was still elevated in the saline-treated group, but not in the fluoxetine-treated group. In summary, these data suggest that one of the potential mechanisms by which fluoxetine alleviates behavioral depression in the forced swim test may be to suppress cholinergic activities in the NAc shell. PMID:21525864

Differential Dopamine Release Dynamics in the Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell Reveal Complementary Signals for Error Prediction and Incentive Motivation

PubMed Central

Cacciapaglia, Fabio; Wightman, R. Mark; Carelli, Regina M.

2015-01-01

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) is phasically released during appetitive behaviors, though there is substantive disagreement about the specific purpose of these DA signals. For example, prediction error (PE) models suggest a role of learning, while incentive salience (IS) models argue that the DA signal imbues stimuli with value and thereby stimulates motivated behavior. However, within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) patterns of DA release can strikingly differ between subregions, and as such, it is possible that these patterns differentially contribute to aspects of PE and IS. To assess this, we measured DA release in subregions of the NAc during a behavioral task that spatiotemporally separated sequential goal-directed stimuli. Electrochemical methods were used to measure subsecond NAc dopamine release in the core and shell during a well learned instrumental chain schedule in which rats were trained to press one lever (seeking; SL) to gain access to a second lever (taking; TL) linked with food delivery, and again during extinction. In the core, phasic DA release was greatest following initial SL presentation, but minimal for the subsequent TL and reward events. In contrast, phasic shell DA showed robust release at all task events. Signaling decreased between the beginning and end of sessions in the shell, but not core. During extinction, peak DA release in the core showed a graded decrease for the SL and pauses in release during omitted expected rewards, whereas shell DA release decreased predominantly during the TL. These release dynamics suggest parallel DA signals capable of supporting distinct theories of appetitive behavior. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dopamine signaling in the brain is important for a variety of cognitive functions, such as learning and motivation. Typically, it is assumed that a single dopamine signal is sufficient to support these cognitive functions, though competing theories disagree on how dopamine contributes to reward-based behaviors. Here, we have found that real-time dopamine release within the nucleus accumbens (a primary target of midbrain dopamine neurons) strikingly varies between core and shell subregions. In the core, dopamine dynamics are consistent with learning-based theories (such as reward prediction error) whereas in the shell, dopamine is consistent with motivation-based theories (e.g., incentive salience). These findings demonstrate that dopamine plays multiple and complementary roles based on discrete circuits that help animals optimize rewarding behaviors. PMID:26290234

Infralimbic prefrontal cortex interacts with nucleus accumbens shell to unmask expression of outcome-selective Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer

PubMed Central

Keistler, Colby; Barker, Jacqueline M.

2015-01-01

Although several studies have examined the subcortical circuitry underlying Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT), the role of medial prefrontal cortex in this behavior is largely unknown. Elucidating the cortical contributions to PIT will be key for understanding how reward-paired cues control behavior in both adaptive and maladaptive context (i.e., addiction). Here we use bilateral lesions in a rat model to show that infralimbic prefrontal cortex (ilPFC) is necessary for appropriate expression of PIT. Further, we show that ilPFC mediates this effect via functional connectivity with nucleus accumbens shell (NAcS). Together, these data provide the first demonstration that a specific cortico-striatal circuit is necessary for cue-invigorated reward seeking during specific PIT. PMID:26373829

Atomistic simulations of activated processes in nanoparticles synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giberti, Federico; Galli, Giulia

Core-shell and Janus nanopartices are promising building blocks for new, highly efficient solar cells. One of the most common synthetic pathways to produce such nanostructures is the use of cation exchange reactions. Although widely used, these procedures are not completely understood. We employed classical Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations to understand these transformation at the molecular level; in particular we investigated the conversion from CdSe (sphalerite) to PbSe (rocksalt) NPs with 2-3 nm diameter. In order to recover the equilibrium free energy surfaces we used state of the art enhanced sampling techniques, including Metadynamics. The formation of hybrid core-shell structures resulted to be an activated process, where the limiting step is the transition of a sphalerite to a rocksalt PbSe nucleus. We found that the barrier height and the stability of the two phases depend on the size of the PbSe nucleus, suggesting that the process could proceed via a two step mechanism, where a small sphalerite nucleus is formed first, and it then transforms to a rocksalt nucleus. Our results give insight into possible manipulation processes at the molecular scale, which could be used to stabilize metastable NPs and tune their physical and chemical properties. This work was supported by the DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-06ER46262.

Single-particle excitations in the level structure of 64Cu

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samanta, S.; Das, S.; Bhattacharjee, R.; Chatterjee, S.; Raut, R.; Ghugre, S. S.; Sinha, A. K.; Garg, U.; Neelam, Kumar, N.; Jones, P.; Laskar, Md. Sazedur R.; Babra, F. S.; Biswas, S.; Saha, S.; Singh, P.; Palit, R.

2018-01-01

Excited states of the 64Cu(Z =29 ,N =35 ) nucleus have been probed using heavy-ion-induced fusion evaporation reaction and an array of Compton-suppressed Clovers as detection system for the emitted γ rays. More than 50 new transitions have been identified and the level scheme of the nucleus has been established up to an excitation energy Ex˜6 MeV and spin ˜10 ℏ . The experimental results have been compared with those from large-basis shell-model calculations that facilitated an understanding of the single-particle configurations underlying the level structure of the nucleus.

Systematization of α-decaying nuclei based on shell structures: The case of even-odd nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yarman, Tolga; Zaim, Nimet; Yarman, O.; Kholmetskii, Alexander; Arık, Metin

2017-01-01

Previously, we provided a novel systematization of α-decaying even-even nuclei starting with the classically adopted mechanism (Yarman et al., Eur. Phys. J. A 52, 140 (2016)). The decay half-life of an α-decaying nucleus was framed so that i) the α-particle is taken at the outset to be born inside the parent nucleus with a given probability, ii) where it then keeps on bouncing off of the barrier of the parent nucleus till iii) it finally tunnels through the barrier. Knowing beforehand the measured decay half-life, we have taken into consideration, as a parameter, the probability of the α-particle being first born within the parent before it is emitted. We thence developed a scaffold based on shell properties of families composed of alike even-even nuclei. Nevertheless, our model allows us to incorporate any α-decaying nuclei, and along this line, we present a follow-up systematization of even-odd nuclei, with cases of odd-even and odd-odd α-decaying nuclei pending to be considered in a separate contribution. Notwithstanding, we make an effort herein to expand our approach to investigate the effect of "pairing" ( e.g., when a number of nucleons in the given nucleus becomes an even number, instead of the initial odd number, due to the addition of at least one neutron). Our results show that "pairing", as expected, definitely increases the stability of the given nucleus.

Vomeronasal inputs to the rodent ventral striatum.

PubMed

Ubeda-Bañon, I; Novejarque, A; Mohedano-Moriano, A; Pro-Sistiaga, P; Insausti, R; Martinez-Garcia, F; Lanuza, E; Martinez-Marcos, A

2008-03-18

Vertebrates sense chemical signals through the olfactory and vomeronasal systems. In squamate reptiles, which possess the largest vomeronasal system of all vertebrates, the accessory olfactory bulb projects to the nucleus sphericus, which in turn projects to a portion of the ventral striatum known as olfactostriatum. Characteristically, the olfactostriatum is innervated by neuropeptide Y, tyrosine hydroxylase and serotonin immunoreactive fibers. In this study, the possibility that a structure similar to the reptilian olfactostriatum might be present in the mammalian brain has been investigated. Injections of dextran-amines have been aimed at the posteromedial cortical amygdaloid nucleus (the putative mammalian homologue of the reptilian nucleus sphericus) of rats and mice. The resulting anterograde labeling includes the olfactory tubercle, the islands of Calleja and sparse terminal fields in the shell of the nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum. This projection has been confirmed by injections of retrograde tracers into the ventral striato-pallidum that render retrograde labeling in the posteromedial cortical amygdaloid nucleus. The analysis of the distribution of neuropeptide Y, tyrosine hydroxylase, serotonin and substance P in the ventral striato-pallidum of rats, and the anterograde tracing of the vomeronasal amygdaloid input in the same material confirm that, similar to reptiles, the ventral striatum of mammals includes a specialized vomeronasal structure (olfactory tubercle and islands of Calleja) displaying dense neuropeptide Y-, tyrosine hydroxylase- and serotonin-immunoreactive innervations. The possibility that parts of the accumbens shell and/or ventral pallidum could be included in the mammalian olfactostriatum cannot be discarded.

Intra-accumbens baclofen, but not muscimol, mimics the effects of food withdrawal on feeding behaviour.

PubMed

Pulman, K G T; Somerville, E M; Clifton, P G

2010-11-01

Intra-accumbens stimulation of GABA receptors results in a robust increase in food intake. However the differential consequences of stimulating GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors in the nucleus accumbens have not been extensively explored with respect to feeding behaviour. Here we compare the effects of the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen and GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol, infused into the nucleus accumbens shell, on food intake and related behavior patterns. Baclofen (110-440 ρmol) dose dependently enhanced intake and delayed the onset of satiety within the test period as did the effects of 4-8h food withdrawal. Muscimol (220-660 ρmol) enhanced intake but also disrupted the sequence of associated behaviours at every dose tested. We conclude that GABA(B) receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell may play a role in relation to feeding motivation whereas GABA(A) receptors may, as previously suggested, have a more restricted role in relation to the motor components of approach to food and ingestion. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of CaMKII activity in the nucleus accumbens shell blocks the reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior in rats.

PubMed

Liu, Zhuo; Zhang, Jian-Jun; Liu, Xiao-Dong; Yu, Long-Chuan

2012-06-19

The Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) may be a core component in the common molecular pathways for drug addiction. Moreover, studies using animal models of drug addiction have demonstrated that changing CaMKII activity or expression influences animals' responses to the drugs of abuse. Here, we explored the roles of CaMKII in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell in the extinction and reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior. Rats were trained to obtain intravenous morphine infusions through poking hole on a fixed-ratio one schedule. Selective CaMKII inhibitor myristoylated autocamtide-2-inhibitory peptide (myr-AIP) was injected into the NAc shell of rats after the acquisition of morphine self-administration (SA) or before the reinstatement test. The results demonstrated that injection of myr-AIP after acquisition of morphine SA did not influence morphine-seeking in the following extinction days and the number of days spent for reaching extinction criterion. However, pretreatment with myr-AIP before the reinstatement test blocked the reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior induced by morphine-priming. Our results strongly indicate that CaMKII activity in the NAc shell is essential to the relapse to morphine-seeking. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exploring Closed-Shell Cationic Phenalenyl: From Catalysis to Spin Electronics.

PubMed

Mukherjee, Arup; Sau, Samaresh Chandra; Mandal, Swadhin K

2017-07-18

The odd alternant hydrocarbon phenalenyl (PLY) can exist in three different forms, a closed-shell cation, an open-shell radical, and a closed-shell anion, using its nonbonding molecular orbital (NBMO). The chemistry of PLY-based molecules began more than five decades ago, and so far, the progress has mainly involved the open-shell neutral radical state. Over the last two decades, we have witnessed the evolution of a range of PLY-based radicals generating an array of multifunctional materials. However, it has been admitted that the practical applications of PLY radicals are greatly challenged by the low stability of the open-shell (radical) state. Recently, we took a different route to establish the utility of these PLY molecules using the closed-shell cationic state. In such a design, the closed-shell unit of PLY can readily accept free electrons, stabilizing in its NBMO upon generation of the open-shell state of the molecule. Thus, one can synthetically avoid the unstable open-shell state but still take advantage of this state by in situ generating the radical through external electron transfer or spin injection into the empty NBMO. It is worth noting that such approaches using closed-shell phenalenyl have been missing in the literature. This Account focuses on our recent developments using the closed-shell cationic state of the PLY molecule and its application in broad multidisciplinary areas spanning from catalysis to spin electronics. We describe how this concept has been utilized to develop a variety of homogeneous catalysts. For example, this concept was used in designing an iron(III) PLY-based electrocatalyst for a single-compartment H 2 O 2 fuel cell, which delivered the best electrocatalytic activity among previously reported iron complexes, organometallic catalysts for various homogeneous organic transformations (hydroamination and polymerization), an organic Lewis acid catalyst for the ring opening of epoxides, and transition-metal-free C-H functionalization catalysts. Moreover, this concept of using the empty NBMO present in the closed-shell cationic state of the PLY moiety to capture electron(s) was further extended to an entirely different area of spin electronics to design a PLY-based spin-memory device, which worked by a spin-filtration mechanism using an organozinc compound based on a PLY backbone deposited over a ferromagnetic substrate. In this Account, we summarize our recent efforts to understand how this unexplored closed-shell state of the phenalenyl molecule, which has been known for over five decades, can be utilized in devising an array of materials that not only are important from an organometallic chemistry or organic chemistry point of view but also provide new understanding for device physics.

Role of shell corrections in the phenomenon of cluster radioactivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Mandeep; Singh, Bir Bikram; Sharma, Manoj K.

2018-05-01

The detailed investigation has been carried out to explore the role of shell corrections in the decay of various radioactive parent nuclei in trans-lead region, specifically, which lead to doubly magic 208Pb daughter nucleus through emission of clusters such as 14C, 18,20O, 22,24,26Ne, 28,30 Mg and 34S i. The fragmentation potential comprises of binding energies (BE), Coulomb potential (Vc) and nuclear or proximity potential (VP) of the decaying fragments (or clusters). It is relevant to mention here that the contributions of VLDM (T=0) and δU (T=0) in the BE have been analysed within the Strutinsky renormanlization procedure. In the framework of quantum mechanical fragmentation theory (QMFT), we have investigated the above mentioned cluster decays with and without inclusion of shell corrections in the fragmentation potential for spherical as well as non-compact oriented nuclei. We find that the experimentally observed clusters 14C, 18,20O, 22,24,26 Ne, 28,30 Mg and 34Si having doubly magic 208 Pb daughter nucleus are not strongly minimized, they do so only after the inclusion of shell corrections in the fragmentation potential. The nuclear structure information carried by the shell corrections have been explored via these calculations, within the collective clusterisation process of QMFT, in the study of ground state decay of radioactive nuclei. The role of different parts of fragmentation potentials such as VLDM, δU, Vc and Vp is dually analysed for better understanding of radioactive cluster decay.

Observation of a γ-decaying millisecond isomeric state in 128Cd80

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jungclaus, A.; Grawe, H.; Nishimura, S.; Doornenbal, P.; Lorusso, G.; Simpson, G. S.; Söderström, P.-A.; Sumikama, T.; Taprogge, J.; Xu, Z. Y.; Baba, H.; Browne, F.; Fukuda, N.; Gernhäuser, R.; Gey, G.; Inabe, N.; Isobe, T.; Jung, H. S.; Kameda, D.; Kim, G. D.; Kim, Y.-K.; Kojouharov, I.; Kubo, T.; Kurz, N.; Kwon, Y. K.; Li, Z.; Sakurai, H.; Schaffner, H.; Shimizu, Y.; Steiger, K.; Suzuki, H.; Takeda, H.; Vajta, Zs.; Watanabe, H.; Wu, J.; Yagi, A.; Yoshinaga, K.; Benzoni, G.; Bönig, S.; Chae, K. Y.; Coraggio, L.; Daugas, J.-M.; Drouet, F.; Gadea, A.; Gargano, A.; Ilieva, S.; Itaco, N.; Kondev, F. G.; Kröll, T.; Lane, G. J.; Montaner-Pizá, A.; Moschner, K.; Mücher, D.; Naqvi, F.; Niikura, M.; Nishibata, H.; Odahara, A.; Orlandi, R.; Patel, Z.; Podolyák, Zs.; Wendt, A.

2017-09-01

A new high-spin isomer in the neutron-rich nucleus 128Cd was populated in the projectile fission of a 238U beam at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN. A half-life of T1/2 = 6.3 (8) ms was measured for the new state which was tentatively assigned a spin/parity of (15-). The experimental results are compared to shell model calculations performed using state-of-the-art realistic effective interactions and to the neighbouring nucleus 129Cd. In the present experiment no evidence was found for the decay of a 18+E6 spin-trap isomer, based on the complete alignment of the two-neutron and two-proton holes in the 0h11/2 and the 0g9/2 orbit, respectively, which is predicted to exist by the shell model.

Search for the Exotic Wobbling Mode in Rhenium-171

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-13

USB hard drive. The decay sequences mentioned above release all of their γ rays within a nanosecond (ns). Data will be recorded when multiple ...events in which multiple detectors measured γ rays within a 120 ns window. An event in which three detectors fired within the coincidence window is...spherical nuclei; however, if the nucleus is axially deformed (non-spherical), the shell model cannot accurately describe its features . The shell model

Blockade of mGluR5 in the nucleus accumbens shell but not core attenuates heroin seeking behavior in rats

PubMed Central

Lou, Zhong-ze; Chen, Ling-hong; Liu, Hui-feng; Ruan, Lie-min; Zhou, Wen-hua

2014-01-01

Aim: Glutamatergic neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is crucial for the relapse to heroin seeking. The aim of this study was to determine whether mGluR5 in the NAc core or shell involved in heroin seeking behavior in rats. Methods: Male SD rats were self-administered heroin under a fixed-ratio 1 (FR1) reinforcement schedule for 14 d, and subsequently withdrawn for 2 weeks. The selective mGluR5 antagonist 2-methyl-6-phenylethynyl-pyridine (MPEP, 5, 15 and 50 nmol per side) was then microinjected into the NAc core or shell 10 min before a heroin-seeking test induced by context, cues or heroin priming. Results: Microinjection of MPEP into the NAc shell dose-dependently decreased the heroin seeking induced by context, cues or heroin priming. In contrast, microinjection of MPEP into the NAc core did not alter the heroin seeking induced by cues or heroin priming. In addition, microinjection with MPEP (15 nmol per side) in the NAc shell reversed both the percentage of open arms entries (OE%) and the percentage of time spent in open arms (OT%) after heroin withdrawal. Microinjection of MPEP (50 nmol per side) in the striatum as a control location did not affect the heroin seeking behavior. Microinjection of MPEP in the 3 locations did not change the locomotion activities. Conclusion: Blockade of mGluR5 in NAc shell in rats specifically suppresses the relapse to heroin-seeking and anxiety-like behavior, suggesting that mGluR5 antagonists may be a potential candidate for the therapy of heroin addiction. PMID:25399651

Dissociation in effects of lesions of the nucleus accumbens core and shell on appetitive pavlovian approach behavior and the potentiation of conditioned reinforcement and locomotor activity by D-amphetamine.

PubMed

Parkinson, J A; Olmstead, M C; Burns, L H; Robbins, T W; Everitt, B J

1999-03-15

Dopamine release within the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) has been associated with both the rewarding and locomotor-stimulant effects of abused drugs. The functions of the NAcc core and shell were investigated in mediating amphetamine-potentiated conditioned reinforcement and locomotion. Rats were initially trained to associate a neutral stimulus (Pavlovian CS) with food reinforcement (US). After excitotoxic lesions that selectively destroyed either the NAcc core or shell, animals underwent additional CS-US training sessions and then were tested for the acquisition of a new instrumental response that produced the CS acting as a conditioned reinforcer (CR). Animals were infused intra-NAcc with D-amphetamine (0, 1, 3, 10, or 20 microg) before each session. Shell lesions affected neither Pavlovian nor instrumental conditioning but completely abolished the potentiative effect of intra-NAcc amphetamine on responding with CR. Core-lesioned animals were impaired during the Pavlovian retraining sessions but showed no deficit in the acquisition of responding with CR. However, the selectivity in stimulant-induced potentiation of the CR lever was reduced, as intra-NAcc amphetamine infusions dose-dependently increased responding on both the CR lever and a nonreinforced (control) lever. Shell lesions produced hypoactivity and attenuated amphetamine-induced activity. In contrast, core lesions resulted in hyperactivity and enhanced the locomotor-stimulating effect of amphetamine. These results indicate a functional dissociation of subregions of the NAcc; the shell is a critical site for stimulant effects underlying the enhancement of responding with CR and locomotion after intra-NAcc injections of amphetamine, whereas the core is implicated in mechanisms underlying the expression of CS-US associations.

The testosterone metabolite 3α-Diol enhances female rat sexual motivation when infused in the nucleus accumbens shell

PubMed Central

Hernández, Lizaida; Barreto Estrada, Jennifer L; Ortiz, José G; Carlos Jorge, Juan

2010-01-01

Aim The purpose of this study was to provide a quantitative assessment of female rat sexual behaviors after acute exposure to the A-ring reduced testosterone metabolite, androstanediol (3α-Diol), through the nucleus accumbens (NA) shell. Main outcome measures Quantitative analyses of female rat sexual behaviors and assessment of protein levels for the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase isoform 67 (GAD67) and gephyrin, a protein that participates in the clustering of GABA-A receptors in postsynaptic cells, were accomplished. Methods Female rats were ovariectomized and primed with estrogen and progesterone to induce sexual behaviors. Females received a 3α-Diol infusion via guided cannula that aimed to the NA shell five minutes prior to a sexual encounter with a stud male. The following parameters were videotaped and measured in a frame by frame analysis: lordosis quotient (LQ), Lordosis rating (LR), frequency and duration of proceptive behaviors (hopping/darting and ear wiggling). Levels of GAD67 and gephyrin were obtained by Western blot analysis two or twenty-four hours after the sexual encounter. Results Acute exposure to 3α-Diol in the NA shell enhanced LR, ear wiggling, and hopping/darting but not LQ. Some of these behavioral effects were counteracted by co-infusion of 3α-Diol plus the GABAA-receptor antagonist GABAzine. A transient reduction of GAD67 levels in the NA shell was detected. Conclusions The testosterone metabolite 3α-Diol enhances sexual proceptivity, but not receptivity, when infused into the NA shell directly. The GABAergic system may participate in the androgen-mediated enhancement of female rat sexual motivation. PMID:20646182

Overexpression of CREB in the nucleus accumbens shell increases cocaine reinforcement in self-administering rats.

PubMed

Larson, Erin B; Graham, Danielle L; Arzaga, Rose R; Buzin, Nicole; Webb, Joseph; Green, Thomas A; Bass, Caroline E; Neve, Rachael L; Terwilliger, Ernest F; Nestler, Eric J; Self, David W

2011-11-09

Chronic exposure to addictive drugs enhances cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-regulated gene expression in nucleus accumbens (NAc), and these effects are thought to reduce the positive hedonic effects of passive cocaine administration. Here, we used viral-mediated gene transfer to produce short- and long-term regulation of CREB activity in NAc shell of rats engaging in volitional cocaine self-administration. Increasing CREB expression in NAc shell markedly enhanced cocaine reinforcement of self-administration behavior, as indicated by leftward (long-term) and upward (short-term) shifts in fixed ratio dose-response curves. CREB also increased the effort exerted by rats to obtain cocaine on more demanding progressive ratio schedules, an effect highly correlated with viral-induced modulation of BDNF protein in the NAc shell. CREB enhanced cocaine reinforcement when expressed either throughout acquisition of self-administration or when expression was limited to postacquisition tests, indicating a direct effect of CREB independent of reinforcement-related learning. Downregulating endogenous CREB in NAc shell by expressing a short hairpin RNA reduced cocaine reinforcement in similar tests, while overexpression of a dominant-negative CREB(S133A) mutant had no significant effect on cocaine self-administration. Finally, increasing CREB expression after withdrawal from self-administration enhanced cocaine-primed relapse, while reducing CREB levels facilitated extinction of cocaine seeking, but neither altered relapse induced by cocaine cues or footshock stress. Together, these findings indicate that CREB activity in NAc shell increases the motivation for cocaine during active self-administration or after withdrawal from cocaine. Our results also highlight that volitional and passive drug administration can lead to substantially different behavioral outcomes.

Dose-response study of caffeine effects on cerebral functional activity with a specific focus on dependence.

PubMed

Nehlig, A; Boyet, S

2000-03-06

Caffeine is a behavioral stimulant consumed on a worldwide basis. The question of whether caffeine is addictive has been debated for over a decade. Caffeine acts as a mild positive reinforcer but is not consistently self-administered in humans or animals. With [14C]2-deoxyglucose autoradiography, we studied the effects of increasing doses of caffeine on cerebral glucose utilization in rats. At 1 mg/kg, caffeine activated the caudate nucleus mediating locomotion, and the raphe nuclei and locus coeruleus involved with mood and sleep. After 2.5 and 5 mg/kg caffeine, metabolic activation spread to other components of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system, the thalamus, ventral tegmental area and amygdala. The functional activation of the shell of the nucleus accumbens, an area involved in addiction and reward, was only induced by the highest dose of caffeine, 10 mg/kg. At this dose, the activation of the shell of the nucleus accumbens occurred together with that of the core of the nucleus accumbens and of most other brain regions. These data correlate well with the known sensitivity of locomotion, mood and sleep to low doses of caffeine. They also show that low doses of caffeine which reflect the usual human level of consumption fail to activate reward circuits in the brain and thus provide functional evidence of the very low addictive potential of caffeine.

Differential Dopamine Release Dynamics in the Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell Reveal Complementary Signals for Error Prediction and Incentive Motivation.

PubMed

Saddoris, Michael P; Cacciapaglia, Fabio; Wightman, R Mark; Carelli, Regina M

2015-08-19

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) is phasically released during appetitive behaviors, though there is substantive disagreement about the specific purpose of these DA signals. For example, prediction error (PE) models suggest a role of learning, while incentive salience (IS) models argue that the DA signal imbues stimuli with value and thereby stimulates motivated behavior. However, within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) patterns of DA release can strikingly differ between subregions, and as such, it is possible that these patterns differentially contribute to aspects of PE and IS. To assess this, we measured DA release in subregions of the NAc during a behavioral task that spatiotemporally separated sequential goal-directed stimuli. Electrochemical methods were used to measure subsecond NAc dopamine release in the core and shell during a well learned instrumental chain schedule in which rats were trained to press one lever (seeking; SL) to gain access to a second lever (taking; TL) linked with food delivery, and again during extinction. In the core, phasic DA release was greatest following initial SL presentation, but minimal for the subsequent TL and reward events. In contrast, phasic shell DA showed robust release at all task events. Signaling decreased between the beginning and end of sessions in the shell, but not core. During extinction, peak DA release in the core showed a graded decrease for the SL and pauses in release during omitted expected rewards, whereas shell DA release decreased predominantly during the TL. These release dynamics suggest parallel DA signals capable of supporting distinct theories of appetitive behavior. Dopamine signaling in the brain is important for a variety of cognitive functions, such as learning and motivation. Typically, it is assumed that a single dopamine signal is sufficient to support these cognitive functions, though competing theories disagree on how dopamine contributes to reward-based behaviors. Here, we have found that real-time dopamine release within the nucleus accumbens (a primary target of midbrain dopamine neurons) strikingly varies between core and shell subregions. In the core, dopamine dynamics are consistent with learning-based theories (such as reward prediction error) whereas in the shell, dopamine is consistent with motivation-based theories (e.g., incentive salience). These findings demonstrate that dopamine plays multiple and complementary roles based on discrete circuits that help animals optimize rewarding behaviors. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/3511572-11$15.00/0.

Anatomy of a Busted Comet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] Poster Version (Figure 1)

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope captured the picture on the left of comet Holmes in March 2008, five months after the comet suddenly erupted and brightened a millionfold overnight. The contrast of the picture has been enhanced on the right to show the anatomy of the comet.

Every six years, comet 17P/Holmes speeds away from Jupiter and heads inward toward the sun, traveling the same route typically without incident. However, twice in the last 116 years, in November 1892 and October 2007, comet Holmes mysteriously exploded as it approached the asteroid belt. Astronomers still do not know the cause of these eruptions.

Spitzer's infrared picture at left hand side of figure 1, reveals fine dust particles that make up the outer shell, or coma, of the comet. The nucleus of the comet is within the bright whitish spot in the center, while the yellow area shows solid particles that were blown from the comet in the explosion. The comet is headed away from the sun, which lies beyond the right-hand side of figure 1.

The contrast-enhanced picture on the right shows the comet's outer shell, and strange filaments, or streamers, of dust. The streamers and shell are a yet another mystery surrounding comet Holmes. Scientists had initially suspected that the streamers were small dust particles ejected from fragments of the nucleus, or from hyerpactive jets on the nucleus, during the October 2007 explosion. If so, both the streamers and the shell should have shifted their orientation as the comet followed its orbit around the sun. Radiation pressure from the sun should have swept the material back and away from it. But pictures of comet Holmes taken by Spitzer over time show the streamers and shell in the same configuration, and not pointing away from the sun. The observations have left astronomers stumped.

The horizontal line seen in the contrast-enhanced picture is a trail of debris that travels along with the comet in its orbit.

The Spitzer picture was taken with the spacecraft's multiband imaging photometer at an infrared wavelength of 24 microns.

The components of mid- and far-infrared emission from S0 and early-type shell galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thronson, Harley A., Jr.; Bally, John; Hacking, Perry

1989-01-01

The IRAS database has been used to study detections of about 150 early-type elliptical and S0 galaxies exhibiting a shell structure. No strong evidence for the expected enhancement of either star formation rates or heating of the interstellar medium is found. It is suggested that for some of the sample galaxies either a contribution from warm dust surrounding evolved stars or emission from an active nucleus may be significant.

Evidence for motivational effects elicited by activation of GABA-A or dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell.

PubMed

Wirtshafter, David; Stratford, Thomas R

2010-09-01

Microinjections of the inhibitory GABA-A receptor agonist muscimol into the shell region of the nucleus accumbens (AcbSh) have been reported to induce large increases in food intake, but the effect of these injections on motivational processes is less clear. In the current study, bilateral injections of saline, muscimol (50ng/side) or d-amphetamine (10mug/side) were made into the AcbSh of rats trained to lever press on a progressive ratio schedule for food reward. Injections of both muscimol and amphetamine were found to produce a large increase in the breaking point relative to saline injections. This result suggests that inactivation of the AcbSh does not simply drive ingestive behavior, but also affects motivational processes assessed by the progressive ratio schedule. Breaking points were also increased by injections of amphetamine into the AcbSh. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evidence for motivational effects elicited by activation of GABA-A or dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell

PubMed Central

Wirtshafter, David; Stratford, Thomas R.

2011-01-01

Microinjections of the inhibitory GABA-A receptor agonist muscimol into the shell region of the nucleus accumbens (AcbSh) have been reported to induce large increases in food intake, but the effect of these injections on motivational processes is less clear. In the current study, bilateral injections of saline, muscimol (50 ng/side) or D-amphetamine (10 μg/side) were made into the AcbSh of rats trained to lever press on a progressive ratio schedule for food reward. Injections of both muscimol and amphetamine were found to produce a large increase in the breaking point relative to saline injections. This result suggests that inactivation of the AcbSh does not simply drive ingestive behavior, but also affects motivational processes assessed by the progressive ratio schedule. Breaking points were also increased by injections of amphetamine into the AcbSh. PMID:20598739

The role of nucleus accumbens shell in learning about neutral versus excitatory stimuli during Pavlovian fear conditioning.

PubMed

Bradfield, Laura A; McNally, Gavan P

2010-07-01

We studied the role of nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) in Pavlovian fear conditioning. Rats were trained to fear conditioned stimulus A (CSA) in Stage I, which was then presented in compound with a neutral stimulus and paired with shock in Stage II. AcbSh lesions had no effect on fear-learning to CSA in Stage I, but selectively prevented learning about the neutral conditioned stimulus (CS) in Stage II. These results add to a growing body of evidence indicating an important role for the ventral striatum in fear-learning. They suggest that the ventral striatum and AcbSh, in particular, directs learning toward or away from a CS as a consequence of how well that CS predicts the shock unconditioned stimulus (US). AcbSh is required to reduce the processing of established predictors, thereby permitting neutral or less predictive stimuli to be learned about.

Observation of a γ -decaying millisecond isomeric state in 128 Cd 80

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

Jungclaus, A.; Grawe, H.; Nishimura, S.

2017-09-01

A new high-spin isomer in the neutron-rich nucleus 128Cd was populated in the projectile fission of a 238U beam at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN. A half-life of T1/2 = 6.3(8) ms was measured for the new state which was tentatively assigned a spin/parity of (15-). The experimental results are compared to shell model calculations performed using state-of-the-art realistic effective interactions and to the neighbouring nucleus 129Cd. In the present experiment no evidence was found for the decay of a 18 + E6 spin-trap isomer, based on the complete alignment of the two-neutron and two-proton holes in themore » 0h 11/2 and the 0g 9/2 orbit, respectively, which is predicted to exist by the shell model.« less

K-mixing in the doubly mid-shell nuclide 170Dy and the role of vibrational degeneracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Söderström, P.-A.; Walker, P. M.; Wu, J.; Liu, H. L.; Regan, P. H.; Watanabe, H.; Doornenbal, P.; Korkulu, Z.; Lee, P.; Liu, J. J.; Lorusso, G.; Nishimura, S.; Phong, V. H.; Sumikama, T.; Xu, F. R.; Yagi, A.; Zhang, G. X.; Ahn, D. S.; Alharbi, T.; Baba, H.; Browne, F.; Bruce, A. M.; Carroll, R. J.; Chae, K. Y.; Dombradi, Zs.; Estrade, A.; Fukuda, N.; Griffin, C. J.; Ideguchi, E.; Inabe, N.; Isobe, T.; Kanaoka, H.; Kanaya, S.; Kojouharov, I.; Kondev, F. G.; Kubo, T.; Kubono, S.; Kurz, N.; Kuti, I.; Lalkovski, S.; Lane, G. J.; Lee, E. J.; Lee, C. S.; Lotay, G.; Moon, C.-B.; Nishizuka, I.; Niţă, C. R.; Odahara, A.; Patel, Z.; Podolyák, Zs.; Roberts, O. J.; Sakurai, H.; Schaffner, H.; Shand, C. M.; Suzuki, H.; Takeda, H.; Terashima, S.; Vajta, Zs.; Valiente-Dòbon, J. J.; Xu, Z. Y.

2016-11-01

A detailed study of the structure of the doubly mid-shell nucleus 104 1 66 170 Dy has been carried out, following isomeric and β decay. We have measured the yrast band up to the spin-parity Jπ =6+ state, the K = 2γ-vibration band up to the 5+ state, a low-lying negative-parity band based on a 2- state that could be a candidate for the lowest energy octupole vibration state within this nucleus, and a candidate for the Kπ =6+ two quasi-particle isomer. This state was determined to have an excitation energy of 1643.91(23) keV and a half life of 0.99(4) μs, with a reduced hindrance for its decay to the ground-state band an order of magnitude lower than predicted by NpNn systematics. This is interpreted as being due to γ-vibrational mixing from a near degeneracy of the isomer and the 6+ state of the γ band. Furthermore, the parent nucleus 170Tb has been determined to have a half-life of 0.91 (+18-13) s with a possible spin-parity of 2-.

Intra-accumbens baclofen, but not muscimol, increases second order instrumental responding for food reward in rats.

PubMed

Pulman, Kim G T; Somerville, Elizabeth M; Clifton, Peter G

2012-01-01

Stimulation of either GABA(A) or GABA(B) receptors within the nucleus accumbens shell strongly enhances food intake in rats. However the effects of subtype-selective stimulation of GABA receptors on instrumental responses for food reward are less well characterized. Here we contrast the effects of the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol and GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen on instrumental responding for food using a second order reinforcement schedule. Bilateral intra-accumbens administration of baclofen (220-440 pmol) stimulated responding but a higher dose (660 pmol) induced stereotyped oral behaviour that interfered with responding. Baclofen (220-660 pmol) also stimulated intake of freely available chow. Muscimol (220-660 pmol) was without effect on responding for food on this schedule but did stimulate intake of freely available chow. Unilateral administration of either baclofen or muscimol (220 pmol) induced similar patterns of c-fos immunoreactivity in several hypothalamic sites but differed in its induction in the central nucleus of the amygdala. We conclude that stimulation of GABA(A) or GABA(B) receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell of rats produces clearly distinguishable effects on operant responding for food.

Measurements of neuron soma size and density in rat dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens core and nucleus accumbens shell: differences between striatal region and brain hemisphere, but not sex.

PubMed

Meitzen, John; Pflepsen, Kelsey R; Stern, Christopher M; Meisel, Robert L; Mermelstein, Paul G

2011-01-07

Both hemispheric bias and sex differences exist in striatal-mediated behaviors and pathologies. The extent to which these dimorphisms can be attributed to an underlying neuroanatomical difference is unclear. We therefore quantified neuron soma size and density in the dorsal striatum (CPu) as well as the core (AcbC) and shell (AcbS) subregions of the nucleus accumbens to determine whether these anatomical measurements differ by region, hemisphere, or sex in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Neuron soma size was larger in the CPu than the AcbC or AcbS. Neuron density was greatest in the AcbS, intermediate in the AcbC, and least dense in the CPu. CPu neuron density was greater in the left in comparison to the right hemisphere. No attribute was sexually dimorphic. These results provide the first evidence that hemispheric bias in the striatum and striatal-mediated behaviors can be attributed to a lateralization in neuronal density within the CPu. In contrast, sexual dimorphisms appear mediated by factors other than gross anatomical differences. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Opioid hedonic hotspot in nucleus accumbens shell: mu, delta, and kappa maps for enhancement of sweetness "liking" and "wanting".

PubMed

Castro, Daniel C; Berridge, Kent C

2014-03-19

A specialized cubic-millimeter hotspot in the rostrodorsal quadrant of medial shell in nucleus accumbens (NAc) of rats may mediate opioid enhancement of gustatory hedonic impact or "liking". Here, we selectively stimulated the three major subtypes of opioid receptors via agonist microinjections [mu (DAMGO), delta (DPDPE), or kappa (U50488H)] and constructed anatomical maps for functional localizations of consequent changes in hedonic "liking" (assessed by affective orofacial reactions to sucrose taste) versus "wanting" (assessed by changes in food intake). Results indicated that the NAc rostrodorsal quadrant contains a shared opioid hedonic hotspot that similarly mediates enhancements of sucrose "liking" for mu, delta, and kappa stimulations. Within the rostrodorsal hotspot boundaries each type of stimulation generated at least a doubling or higher enhancement of hedonic reactions, with comparable intensities for all three types of opioid stimulation. By contrast, a negative hedonic coldspot was mapped in the caudal half of medial shell, where all three types of opioid stimulation suppressed "liking" reactions to approximately one-half normal levels. Different anatomical patterns were produced for stimulation of food "wanting", reflected in food intake. Altogether, these results indicate that the rostrodorsal hotspot in medial shell is unique for generating opioid-induced hedonic enhancement, and add delta and kappa signals to mu as hedonic generators within the hotspot. Also, the identification of a separable NAc caudal coldspot for hedonic suppression, and separate NAc opioid mechanisms for controlling food "liking" versus "wanting" further highlights NAc anatomical heterogeneity and localizations of function within subregions of medial shell.

Effect of vertebral shell on injection pressure and intravertebral pressure in vertebroplasty.

PubMed

Baroud, Gamal; Vant, Christianne; Giannitsios, Demetri; Bohner, Marc; Steffen, Thomas

2005-01-01

An experimental biomechanical study conducted on osteoporotic cadaveric vertebrae. 1) To measure the intravertebral shell pressure and injection pressure; and 2) to determine the effect of the vertebral shell on the intravertebral shell pressure and on the injection pressure. Forces that govern cement flow are an essential component of the cement injection process in vertebroplasty. The vertebral shell may play a significant role in confining the flow of cement in the vertebral body and thereby affecting the intravertebral pressure and injection pressure. A small fenestration was created in the left lateral vertebral shell of 14 vertebrae. A valve to open and close the fenestration and a sensor to measure the intravertebral pressure were attached to the opening. A closed fenestration simulated an intact shell, whereas an open fenestration represented a vented shell. Injection pressure and intravertebral pressure at the shell were recorded during a controlled injection. A closed fenestration resulted in a significant increase in the intravertebral pressure at the shell. During the injection, the shell pressure increased on average to approximately 3.54 +/- 2.91 kPa. Conversely, an open fenestration resulted in an instant relaxation of the shell pressure to the ambient pressure of 0 kPa. Additionally, the injection pressure was approximately 97 times higher than the shell pressure. The presence of vertebral shell seems to be important for intravertebral pressure. However, the intravertebral shell pressure adds very little to the injection pressure.

Electrolytic lesions of the nucleus accumbens core (but not the medial shell) and the basolateral amygdala enhance context-specific locomotor sensitization to nicotine in rats.

PubMed

Kelsey, John E; Gerety, Lyle P; Guerriero, Rejean M

2009-06-01

We previously demonstrated that lesions of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core enhanced locomotion and locomotor sensitization to repeated injections of nicotine in rats (Kelsey & Willmore, 2006). In this study, we compared the effects of separate lesions of the NAc core, NAc medial shell, and basolateral amygdala on context-specific locomotor sensitization to repeated injections of 0.4 mg/kg nicotine. Electrolytic lesions of the NAc core increased locomotion, and lesions of the core (but not the shell) and the basolateral amygdala enhanced context-specific locomotor sensitization by enhancing the development of sensitization in paired rats and decreasing expression in unpaired rats relative to sham-operated rats when challenged with an injection of 0.4 mg/kg nicotine in the locomotor chambers. These data are consistent with findings that the NAc core and the basolateral amygdala share a variety of behavioral functions and anatomical connections. The findings that lesions of these structures enhance context-specific locomotor sensitization while typically impairing other reward-related behaviors also indicate that the processes underlying locomotor sensitization and reward are not identical. Copyright (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

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

Nesterov, V. A., E-mail: archerix@ukpost.ua

On the basis of the energy-density method, the effect of simultaneously taking into account the Pauli exclusion principle and the monopole and quadrupole polarizations of interacting nuclei on their interaction potential is considered for the example of the {sup 16}O + {sup 16}O system by using the wave function for the two-center shell model. The calculations performed in the adiabatic approximation reveal that the inclusion of the Pauli exclusion principle and the polarization of interacting nuclei, especially their quadrupole polarization, has a substantial effect on the potential of the nucleus-nucleus interaction.

SU-E-T-667: Radiosensitization Due to Gold Nanoparticles: A Monte Carlo Cellular Dosimetry Investigation of An Expansive Parameter Space

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

Martinov, M; Thomson, R

2015-06-15

Purpose: To investigate dose enhancement to cellular compartments following gold nanoparticle (GNP) uptake in tissue, varying cell and tissue morphology, intra and extracellular GNP distribution, and source energy using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Methods: Models of single and multiple cells are developed for normal and cancerous tissues; cells (outer radii 5–10 µm) are modeled as concentric spheres comprising the nucleus (radii 2.5–7.5 µm) and cytoplasm. GNP distributions modeled include homogeneous distributions throughout the cytoplasm, variable numbers of GNP-containing endosomes within the cytoplasm, or distributed in a spherical shell about the nucleus. Gold concentrations range from 1 to 30 mg/g. Dosemore » to nucleus and to cytoplasm for simulations including GNPs are compared to simulations without GNPs to compute Nuclear and Cytoplasm Dose Enhancement Factors (NDEF, CDEF). Photon source energies are between 20 keV and 1.25 MeV. Results: DEFs are highly sensitive to GNP intracellular distribution; for a 2.5 µm radius nucleus irradiated by a 30 keV source, NDEF varies from 1.2 for a single endosome containing all GNPs to 8.2 for GNPs distributed about the nucleus (7 mg/g). DEFs vary with cell dimensions and source energy: NDEFs vary from 2.5 (90 keV) to 8.2 (30 keV) for a 2.5 µm radius nucleus and from 1.1 (90 keV) to 1.3 (30 keV) for a 7.5 µm radius nucleus, both with GNPs in a spherical shell about the nucleus (7 mg/g). NDEF and CDEF are generally different within a single cell. For multicell models, the presence of gold within intervening tissues between source and target perturbs the fluence reaching cellular targets, resulting in DEF inhomogeneities within a population of irradiated cells. Conclusion: DEFs vary by an order of magnitude for different cell models, GNP distributions, and source energies, demonstrating the importance of detailed modelling for advancing GNP development for radiotherapy. Funding provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRC)« less

Amphetamine self-administration and dopamine function: assessment of gene × environment interactions in Lewis and Fischer 344 rats.

PubMed

Meyer, Andrew C; Bardo, Michael T

2015-07-01

Previous research suggests both genetic and environmental influences on substance abuse vulnerability. The current work sought to investigate the interaction of genes and environment on the acquisition of amphetamine self-administration as well as amphetamine-stimulated dopamine (DA) release in nucleus accumbens shell using in vivo microdialysis. Inbred Lewis (LEW) and Fischer (F344) rat strains were raised in either an enriched condition (EC), social condition (SC), or isolated condition (IC). Acquisition of amphetamine self-administration (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) was determined across an incrementing daily fixed ratio (FR) schedule. In a separate cohort of rats, extracellular DA and the metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were measured in the nucleus accumbens shell following an acute amphetamine injection (1 mg/kg). "Addiction-prone" LEW rats had greater acquisition of amphetamine self-administration on a FR1 schedule compared to "addiction-resistant" F344 rats when raised in the SC environment. These genetic differences were negated in both the EC and IC environments, with enrichment buffering against self-administration and isolation enhancing self-administration in both strains. On a FR5 schedule, the isolation-induced increase in amphetamine self-administration was greater in F344 than LEW rats. While no group differences were obtained in extracellular DA, gene × environment differences were obtained in extracellular levels of the metabolite DOPAC. In IC rats only, LEW rats showed attenuation in the amphetamine-induced decrease in DOPAC compared to F344 rats. IC LEW rats also had an attenuated DOPAC response to amphetamine compared to EC LEW rats. The current results demonstrate gene × environment interactions in amphetamine self-administration and amphetamine-induced changes in extracellular DOPAC in nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell. However, the behavioral and neurochemical differences were not related directly, indicating that mechanisms independent of DA metabolism in NAc shell likely mediate the gene × environment effects in amphetamine self-administration.

High spin structure and intruder configurations in 31P

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ionescu-Bujor, M.; Iordachescu, A.; Napoli, D. R.; Lenzi, S. M.; Mărginean, N.; Otsuka, T.; Utsuno, Y.; Ribas, R. V.; Axiotis, M.; Bazzacco, D.; Bizzeti-Sona, A. M.; Bizzeti, P. G.; Brandolini, F.; Bucurescu, D.; Cardona, M. A.; De Angelis, G.; De Poli, M.; Della Vedova, F.; Farnea, E.; Gadea, A.; Hojman, D.; Kalfas, C. A.; Kröll, Th.; Lunardi, S.; Martínez, T.; Mason, P.; Pavan, P.; Quintana, B.; Alvarez, C. Rossi; Ur, C. A.; Vlastou, R.; Zilio, S.

2006-02-01

The nucleus 31P has been studied in the 24Mg(16O,2αp) reaction with a 70-MeV 16O beam. A complex level scheme extended up to spins 17/2+ and 15/2-, on positive and negative parity, respectively, has been established. Lifetimes for the new states have been investigated by the Doppler shift attenuation method. Two shell-model calculations have been performed to describe the experimental data, one by using the code ANTOINE in a valence space restricted to the sd shell, and the other by applying the Monte Carlo shell model in a valence space including the sd-fp shells. The latter calculation indicates that intruder excitations, involving the promotion of a T=0 proton-neutron pair to the fp shell, play a dominant role in the structure of the positive-parity high-spin states of 31P.

Disorders of metal metabolism

PubMed Central

Ferreira, Carlos R.; Gahl, William A.

2017-01-01

Trace elements are chemical elements needed in minute amounts for normal physiology. Some of the physiologically relevant trace elements include iodine, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, selenium, cobalt and molybdenum. Of these, some are metals, and in particular, transition metals. The different electron shells of an atom carry different energy levels, with those closest to the nucleus being lowest in energy. The number of electrons in the outermost shell determines the reactivity of such an atom. The electron shells are divided in sub-shells, and in particular the third shell has s, p and d sub-shells. Transition metals are strictly defined as elements whose atom has an incomplete d sub-shell. This incomplete d sub-shell makes them prone to chemical reactions, particularly redox reactions. Transition metals of biologic importance include copper, iron, manganese, cobalt and molybdenum. Zinc is not a transition metal, since it has a complete d sub-shell. Selenium, on the other hand, is strictly speaking a nonmetal, although given its chemical properties between those of metals and nonmetals, it is sometimes considered a metalloid. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the inborn errors of metal and metalloid metabolism. PMID:29354481

Descending projections from the nucleus accumbens shell excite activity of taste-responsive neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract in the hamster.

PubMed

Li, Cheng-Shu; Lu, Da-Peng; Cho, Young K

2015-06-01

The nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) and the parabrachial nuclei (PbN) are the first and second relays in the rodent central taste pathway. A series of electrophysiological experiments revealed that spontaneous and taste-evoked activities of brain stem gustatory neurons are altered by descending input from multiple forebrain nuclei in the central taste pathway. The nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) is a key neural substrate of reward circuitry, but it has not been verified as a classical gustatory nucleus. A recent in vivo electrophysiological study demonstrated that the NAcSh modulates the spontaneous and gustatory activities of hamster pontine taste neurons. In the present study, we investigated whether activation of the NAcSh modulates gustatory responses of the NST neurons. Extracellular single-unit activity was recorded from medullary neurons in urethane-anesthetized hamsters. After taste response was confirmed by delivery of sucrose, NaCl, citric acid, and quinine hydrochloride to the anterior tongue, the NAcSh was stimulated bilaterally with concentric bipolar stimulating electrodes. Stimulation of the ipsilateral and contralateral NAcSh induced firings from 54 and 37 of 90 medullary taste neurons, respectively. Thirty cells were affected bilaterally. No inhibitory responses or antidromic invasion was observed after NAcSh activation. In the subset of taste cells tested, high-frequency electrical stimulation of the NAcSh during taste delivery enhanced taste-evoked neuronal firing. These results demonstrate that two-thirds of the medullary gustatory neurons are under excitatory descending influence from the NAcSh, which is a strong indication of communication between the gustatory pathway and the mesolimbic reward pathway. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

The nucleus is an intracellular propagator of tensile forces in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

PubMed Central

Alam, Samer G.; Lovett, David; Kim, Dae In; Roux, Kyle J.; Dickinson, Richard B.; Lele, Tanmay P.

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT Nuclear positioning is a crucial cell function, but how a migrating cell positions its nucleus is not understood. Using traction-force microscopy, we found that the position of the nucleus in migrating fibroblasts closely coincided with the center point of the traction-force balance, called the point of maximum tension (PMT). Positioning of the nucleus close to the PMT required nucleus–cytoskeleton connections through linker of nucleoskeleton-to-cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes. Although the nucleus briefly lagged behind the PMT following spontaneous detachment of the uropod during migration, the nucleus quickly repositioned to the PMT within a few minutes. Moreover, traction-generating spontaneous protrusions deformed the nearby nucleus surface to pull the nuclear centroid toward the new PMT, and subsequent retraction of these protrusions relaxed the nuclear deformation and restored the nucleus to its original position. We propose that the protruding or retracting cell boundary transmits a force to the surface of the nucleus through the intervening cytoskeletal network connected by the LINC complexes, and that these forces help to position the nucleus centrally and allow the nucleus to efficiently propagate traction forces across the length of the cell during migration. PMID:25908852

Visualisation and orbital-free parametrisation of the large-Z scaling of the kinetic energy density of atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cancio, Antonio C.; Redd, Jeremy J.

2017-03-01

The scaling of neutral atoms to large Z, combining periodicity with a gradual trend to homogeneity, is a fundamental probe of density functional theory, one that has driven recent advances in understanding both the kinetic and exchange-correlation energies. Although research focus is normally upon the scaling of integrated energies, insights can also be gained from energy densities. We visualise the scaling of the positive-definite kinetic energy density (KED) in closed-shell atoms, in comparison to invariant quantities based upon the gradient and Laplacian of the density. We notice a striking fit of the KED within the core of any atom to a gradient expansion using both the gradient and the Laplacian, appearing as an asymptotic limit around which the KED oscillates. The gradient expansion is qualitatively different from that derived from first principles for a slowly varying electron gas and is correlated with a nonzero Pauli contribution to the KED near the nucleus. We propose and explore orbital-free meta-GGA models for the kinetic energy to describe these features, with some success, but the effects of quantum oscillations in the inner shells of atoms make a complete parametrisation difficult. We discuss implications for improved orbital-free description of molecular properties.

Projected shell model study of odd-odd f-p-g shell proton-rich nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palit, R.; Sheikh, J. A.; Sun, Y.; Jain, H. C.

2003-01-01

A systematic study of two-quasiparticle bands of the proton-rich odd-odd nuclei in the mass A˜70 80 region is performed using the projected shell model approach. The study includes Br, Rb, and Y isotopes with N=Z+2 and Z+4. We describe the energy spectra and electromagnetic transition strengths in terms of the configuration mixing of the angular-momentum projected multi-quasiparticle states. Signature splitting and signature inversion in the rotational bands are discussed and are shown to be well described. A preliminary study of the odd-odd N=Z nucleus 74Rb, using the concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking is also presented.

Rat Nucleus Accumbens Core Astrocytes Modulate Reward and the Motivation to Self-Administer Ethanol after Abstinence

PubMed Central

Bull, Cecilia; Freitas, Kelen CC; Zou, Shiping; Poland, Ryan S; Syed, Wahab A; Urban, Daniel J; Minter, Sabrina C; Shelton, Keith L; Hauser, Kurt F; Negus, S Stevens; Knapp, Pamela E; Bowers, M Scott

2014-01-01

Our understanding of the active role that astrocytes play in modulating neuronal function and behavior is rapidly expanding, but little is known about the role that astrocytes may play in drug-seeking behavior for commonly abused substances. Given that the nucleus accumbens is critically involved in substance abuse and motivation, we sought to determine whether nucleus accumbens astrocytes influence the motivation to self-administer ethanol following abstinence. We found that the packing density of astrocytes that were expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein increased in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) during abstinence from EtOH self-administration. No change was observed in the nucleus accumbens shell. This increased NAcore astrocyte density positively correlated with the motivation for ethanol. Astrocytes can communicate with one another and influence neuronal activity through gap-junction hemichannels. Because of this, the effect of blocking gap-junction hemichannels on the motivation for ethanol was examined. The motivation to self-administer ethanol after 3 weeks abstinence was increased following microinjection of gap-junction hemichannel blockers into the NAcore at doses that block both neuronal and astrocytic channels. In contrast, no effect was observed following microinjection of doses that are not thought to block astrocytic channels or following microinjection of either dose into the nucleus accumbens shell. Additionally, the motivation for sucrose after 3 weeks abstinence was unaffected by NAcore gap-junction hemichannel blockers. Next, Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) were selectively expressed in NAcore astrocytes to test the effect of astrocyte stimulation. DREADD activation increased cytosolic calcium in primary astrocytes, facilitated responding for rewarding brain stimulation, and reduced the motivation for ethanol after 3 weeks abstinence. This is the first work to modulate drug-seeking behavior with astrocyte-specific DREADDs. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that NAcore astrocytes can shape the motivation to self-administer ethanol; suggesting that the development of ligands which selectively stimulate astrocytes may be a successful strategy to abate ethanol-seeking behavior. PMID:24903651

Rat nucleus accumbens core astrocytes modulate reward and the motivation to self-administer ethanol after abstinence.

PubMed

Bull, Cecilia; Freitas, Kelen C C; Zou, Shiping; Poland, Ryan S; Syed, Wahab A; Urban, Daniel J; Minter, Sabrina C; Shelton, Keith L; Hauser, Kurt F; Negus, S Stevens; Knapp, Pamela E; Bowers, M Scott

2014-11-01

Our understanding of the active role that astrocytes play in modulating neuronal function and behavior is rapidly expanding, but little is known about the role that astrocytes may play in drug-seeking behavior for commonly abused substances. Given that the nucleus accumbens is critically involved in substance abuse and motivation, we sought to determine whether nucleus accumbens astrocytes influence the motivation to self-administer ethanol following abstinence. We found that the packing density of astrocytes that were expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein increased in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) during abstinence from EtOH self-administration. No change was observed in the nucleus accumbens shell. This increased NAcore astrocyte density positively correlated with the motivation for ethanol. Astrocytes can communicate with one another and influence neuronal activity through gap-junction hemichannels. Because of this, the effect of blocking gap-junction hemichannels on the motivation for ethanol was examined. The motivation to self-administer ethanol after 3 weeks abstinence was increased following microinjection of gap-junction hemichannel blockers into the NAcore at doses that block both neuronal and astrocytic channels. In contrast, no effect was observed following microinjection of doses that are not thought to block astrocytic channels or following microinjection of either dose into the nucleus accumbens shell. Additionally, the motivation for sucrose after 3 weeks abstinence was unaffected by NAcore gap-junction hemichannel blockers. Next, Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) were selectively expressed in NAcore astrocytes to test the effect of astrocyte stimulation. DREADD activation increased cytosolic calcium in primary astrocytes, facilitated responding for rewarding brain stimulation, and reduced the motivation for ethanol after 3 weeks abstinence. This is the first work to modulate drug-seeking behavior with astrocyte-specific DREADDs. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that NAcore astrocytes can shape the motivation to self-administer ethanol; suggesting that the development of ligands which selectively stimulate astrocytes may be a successful strategy to abate ethanol-seeking behavior.

Innately activated TLR4 signal in the nucleus accumbens is sustained by CRF amplification loop and regulates impulsivity.

PubMed

Balan, Irina; Warnock, Kaitlin T; Puche, Adam; Gondre-Lewis, Marjorie C; Aurelian, Laure

2018-03-01

Cognitive impulsivity is a heritable trait believed to represent the behavior that defines the volition to initiate alcohol drinking. We have previously shown that a neuronal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signal located in the central amygdala (CeA) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) controls the initiation of binge drinking in alcohol-preferring P rats, and TLR4 expression is upregulated by alcohol-induced corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) at these sites. However, the function of the TLR4 signal in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAc-shell), a site implicated in the control of reward, drug-seeking behavior and impulsivity and the contribution of other signal-associated genes, are still poorly understood. Here we report that P rats have an innately activated TLR4 signal in NAc-shell neurons that co-express the α2 GABA A receptor subunit and CRF prior to alcohol exposure. This signal is not present in non-alcohol drinking NP rats. The TLR4 signal is sustained by a CRF amplification loop, which includes TLR4-mediated CRF upregulation through PKA/CREB activation and CRF-mediated TLR4 upregulation through the CRF type 1 receptor (CRFR1) and the MAPK/ERK pathway. NAc-shell Infusion of a neurotropic, non-replicating herpes simplex virus vector for TLR4-specific small interfering RNA (pHSVsiTLR4) inhibits TLR4 expression and cognitive impulsivity, implicating the CRF-amplified TLR4 signal in impulsivity regulation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Augmentation of Heroin Seeking Following Chronic Food Restriction in the Rat: Differential Role for Dopamine Transmission in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell and Core.

PubMed

D'Cunha, Tracey M; Daoud, Emilie; Rizzo, Damaris; Bishop, Audrey B; Russo, Melissa; Mourra, Gabrielle; Hamel, Laurie; Sedki, Firas; Shalev, Uri

2017-04-01

Caloric restriction during drug abstinence increases the risk for relapse in addicts. In rats, chronic food restriction during a period of withdrawal following heroin self-administration augments heroin seeking. The mechanisms underlying this effect are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the role of nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core dopamine (DA) in food restriction-induced augmentation of heroin seeking. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) for 10 days. Next, rats were moved to the animal colony for a withdrawal period, during which rats were food restricted to 90% of their original body weight (FDR group) or given unrestricted access to food (sated group). On day 14 of food restriction, rats were returned to the operant conditioning chambers for a heroin-seeking test under extinction conditions. Extracellular DA levels were assessed using in vivo microdialysis. In separate experiments, the DA D1-like receptor antagonist SCH39166 (12.5, 25.0, or 50.0 ng/side) was administered into the NAc before the heroin-seeking test. In the NAc shell, pre-test exposure to the heroin-associated context increased DA only in FDR rats; but in the NAc core, DA increased regardless of feeding condition. Food restriction significantly augmented heroin seeking and increased DA in the NAc shell and core during the test. Intra-NAc shell administration of SCH39166 decreased heroin seeking in all rats. In contrast, in the NAc core, SCH39166 selectively decreased the augmentation of heroin-seeking induced by chronic food restriction. Taken together, these results suggest that activation of the DA D1-like receptor in the NAc core is important for food restriction-induced augmentation of heroin seeking.

BDNF–TrkB signaling in the nucleus accumbens shell of mice has key role in methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms

PubMed Central

Ren, Q; Ma, M; Yang, C; Zhang, J-C; Yao, W; Hashimoto, K

2015-01-01

Depression is a core symptom of methamphetamine (METH) withdrawal during the first several weeks of abstinence. However, the precise mechanisms underlying METH withdrawal symptoms remain unknown. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its specific receptor, tropomyosin-related kinase (TrkB), have a role the in pathophysiology of depression. In this study, we examined the role of BDNF–TrkB signaling in different brain regions of male mice with METH withdrawal symptoms. Repeated METH (3 mg kg−1 per day for 5 days) administration to mice caused a long-lasting depression-like behavior including anhedonia. Western blot analysis showed that BDNF levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of METH-treated mice were significantly higher than those of control mice whereas BDNF levels in other regions, including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, were not altered. METH-induced depression-like behavior, behavioral sensitization and dendritic changes in the NAc shell were improved by subsequent subchronic administration of TrkB antagonist ANA-12 (0.5 mg kg−1 per day for 14 days), but not TrkB agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (10 mg kg−1 per day for 14 days). In vivo microdialysis showed that METH (1 mg kg−1)-induced dopamine release in NAc shell of METH-treated mice was attenuated after subsequent subchronic ANA-12 administration. Interestingly, a single bilateral infusion of ANA-12 into the NAc shell, but not NAc core, showed a rapid and long-lasting therapeutic effect. However, ketamine and paroxetine had no effect. These findings suggest that increased BDNF–TrkB signaling in the NAc shell has an important role in the behavioral abnormalities after withdrawal from repeated METH administration, and that TrkB antagonists are potential therapeutic drugs for withdrawal symptoms in METH abusers. PMID:26506052

Neutrino Spectra from Nuclear Weak Interactions in sd-Shell Nuclei under Astrophysical Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Misch, G. Wendell; Sun, Yang; Fuller, George M.

2018-01-01

We present shell model calculations of nuclear neutrino energy spectra for 70 sd-shell nuclei over the mass number range A = 21–35. Our calculations include nuclear excited states as appropriate for the hot and dense conditions characteristic of pre-collapse massive stars. We consider neutrinos produced by charged lepton captures and decays, and for the first time in tabular form, neutral current nuclear deexcitation, providing neutrino energy spectra on the Fuller–Fowler–Newman temperature–density grid for these interaction channels for each nucleus. We use the full sd-shell model space to compute initial nuclear states up to 20 MeV excitation with transitions to final states up to 35–40 MeV, employing a modification of the Brink-Axel hypothesis to handle high-temperature population factors and the nuclear partition functions.

The resolved nucleus of Comet Siding Spring (C/2013 A1) in MRO HiRISE images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farnham, Tony; Kelley, Michael S.; Bodewits, Dennis; Bauer, James M.

2017-10-01

Comet Siding Spring (C/2013 A1) passed within 140,000 km of Mars on 19 Oct 2014. The MRO spacecraft, in orbit around Mars, used its HiRISE camera to monitor the comet during the encounter, obtaining the first resolved images of the nucleus of a dynamically new comet.MRO observed Siding Spring from 60 hr before, to 15 hr after close approach, obtaining 122 images in three different color filters. Close approach images, with a spatial scale as small as 138 m/pix, reveal an elongated crescent that changes shape over the course of the sequence, indicating that we are seeing a ~1 km non-spherical body from different viewpoints as the comet rapidly sweeps past. To better constrain the characteristics of the nucleus, we are performing detailed analyses, including modeling of the inner coma to separate its flux contribution from that of the nucleus. In conjunction with the coma removal, we will model the nucleus as a prolate/triaxial ellipsoid and, combined with the known illumination and viewing conditions, will use the changing aspect in the images to constrain the size, shape, orientation, albedo and possibly the phase dependence of the nucleus.In addition to the close approach observations, the images before and after close approach capture the coma structure and brightness. The photometric lightcurve from these images shows variability with an 8.1 hr period, which is presumed to be the rotational modulation of the coma activity. The observed morphology changes as well, promising to provide a measure of the nucleus' spin axis orientation.We will report on the results from our analyses, and provide the first direct measurements of the nucleus of a dynamically new comet.

K-mixing in the doubly mid-shell nuclide 170Dy and the role of vibrational degeneracy

DOE PAGES

Soderstrom, P. -A.; Walker, P. M.; Wu, J.; ...

2016-10-04

Here, a detailed study of the structure of the doubly mid-shell nucleus 170 66Dy 104 has been carried out, following isomeric and β decay. We have measured the yrast band up to the spin-parity J π = 6 + state, the K = 2 γ -vibration band up to the 5 + state, a low-lying negative-parity band based on a 2¯ state that could be a candidate for the lowest energy octupole vibration state within this nucleus, and a candidate for the K π = 6+ two quasi-particle isomer. This state was determined to have an excitation energy of 1643.91(23)more » keV and a half life of 0.99(4) μs, with a reduced hindrance for its decay to the groundstate band an order of magnitude lower than predicted by N pN n systematics. This is interpreted as being due to γ -vibrational mixing from a near degeneracy of the isomer and the 6 + state of the γ band. Furthermore, the parent nucleus 170Tb has been determined to have a half-life of 0.91( +18 –13) s with a possible spin-parity of 2¯.« less

Neurotoxicity of Synthetic Cannabinoids JWH-081 and JWH-210

PubMed Central

Cha, Hye Jin; Seong, Yeon-Hee; Song, Min-Ji; Jeong, Ho-Sang; Shin, Jisoon; Yun, Jaesuk; Han, Kyoungmoon; Kim, Young-Hoon; Kang, Hoil; Kim, Hyoung Soo

2015-01-01

Synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 and JWH-250 in ‘herbal incense’ also called ‘spice’ were first introduced in many countries. Numerous synthetic cannabinoids with similar chemical structures emerged simultaneously and suddenly. Currently there are not sufficient data on their adverse effects including neurotoxicity. There are only anecdotal reports that suggest their toxicity. In the present study, we evaluated the neurotoxicity of two synthetic cannabinoids (JWH-081 and JWH-210) through observation of various behavioral changes and analysis of histopathological changes using experimental mice with various doses (0.1, 1, 5 mg/kg). In functional observation battery (FOB) test, animals treated with 5 mg/kg of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed traction and tremor. Their locomotor activities and rotarod retention time were significantly (p<0.05) decreased. However, no significant change was observed in learning or memory function. In histopathological analysis, neural cells of the animals treated with the high dose (5 mg/kg) of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed distorted nuclei and nucleus membranes in the core shell of nucleus accumbens, suggesting neurotoxicity. Our results suggest that JWH-081 and JWH-210 may be neurotoxic substances through changing neuronal cell damages, especially in the core shell part of nucleus accumbens. To confirm our findings, further studies are needed in the future. PMID:26535086

Surface-peaked medium effects in the interaction of nucleons with finite nuclei

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

Aguayo, F. J.; Arellano, H. F.

We investigate the asymptotic separation of the optical model potential for nucleon-nucleus scattering in momentum space, where the potential is split into a medium-independent term and another depending exclusively on the gradient of the density-dependent g matrix. This decomposition confines the medium sensitivity of the nucleon-nucleus coupling to the surface of the nucleus. We examine this feature in the context of proton-nucleus scattering at beam energies between 30 and 100 MeV and find that the pn coupling accounts for most of this sensitivity. Additionally, based on this general structure of the optical potential we are able to treat both, themore » medium dependence of the effective interaction and the full mixed density as described by single-particle shell models. The calculated scattering observables agree within 10% with those obtained by Arellano, Brieva, and Love in their momentum-space g-folding approach.« less

Separate roles for chromatin and lamins in nuclear mechanics.

PubMed

Stephens, Andrew D; Banigan, Edward J; Marko, John F

2018-01-01

The cell nucleus houses, protects, and arranges the genome within the cell. Therefore, nuclear mechanics and morphology are important for dictating gene regulation, and these properties are perturbed in many human diseases, such as cancers and progerias. The field of nuclear mechanics has long been dominated by studies of the nuclear lamina, the intermediate filament shell residing just beneath the nuclear membrane. However, a growing body of work shows that chromatin and chromatin-related factors within the nucleus are an essential part of the mechanical response of the cell nucleus to forces. Recently, our group demonstrated that chromatin and the lamina provide distinct mechanical contributions to nuclear mechanical response. The lamina is indeed important for robust response to large, whole-nucleus stresses, but chromatin dominates the short-extension response. These findings offer a clarifying perspective on varied nuclear mechanics measurements and observations, and they suggest several new exciting possibilities for understanding nuclear morphology, organization, and mechanics.

Norepinephrine in the Medial Pre-frontal Cortex Supports Accumbens Shell Responses to a Novel Palatable Food in Food-Restricted Mice Only

PubMed Central

Latagliata, Emanuele Claudio; Puglisi-Allegra, Stefano; Ventura, Rossella; Cabib, Simona

2018-01-01

Previous findings from this laboratory demonstrate: (1) that different classes of addictive drugs require intact norepinephrine (NE) transmission in the medial pre Frontal Cortex (mpFC) to promote conditioned place preference and to increase dopamine (DA) tone in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAc Shell); (2) that only food-restricted mice require intact NE transmission in the mpFC to develop conditioned preference for a context associated with milk chocolate; and (3) that food-restricted mice show a significantly larger increase of mpFC NE outflow then free fed mice when experiencing the palatable food for the first time. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that only the high levels of frontal cortical NE elicited by the natural reward in food restricted mice stimulate mesoaccumbens DA transmission. To this aim we investigated the ability of a first experience with milk chocolate to increase DA outflow in the accumbens Shell and c-fos expression in striatal and limbic areas of food–restricted and ad-libitum fed mice. Moreover, we tested the effects of a selective depletion of frontal cortical NE on both responses in either feeding group. Only in food-restricted mice milk chocolate induced an increase of DA outflow beyond baseline in the accumbens Shell and a c-fos expression larger than that promoted by a novel inedible object in the nucleus accumbens. Moreover, depletion of frontal cortical NE selectively prevented both the increase of DA outflow and the large expression of c-fos promoted by milk chocolate in the NAc Shell of food-restricted mice. These findings support the conclusion that in food-restricted mice a novel palatable food activates the motivational circuit engaged by addictive drugs and support the development of noradrenergic pharmacology of motivational disturbances. PMID:29434542

The functional divide for primary reinforcement of D-amphetamine lies between the medial and lateral ventral striatum: is the division of the accumbens core, shell, and olfactory tubercle valid?

PubMed

Ikemoto, Satoshi; Qin, Mei; Liu, Zhong-Hua

2005-05-18

When projection analyses placed the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle in the striatal system, functional links between these sites began to emerge. The accumbens has been implicated in the rewarding effects of psychomotor stimulants, whereas recent work suggests that the medial accumbens shell and medial olfactory tubercle mediate the rewarding effects of cocaine. Interestingly, anatomical evidence suggests that medial portions of the shell and tubercle receive afferents from common zones in a number of regions. Here, we report results suggesting that the current division of the ventral striatum into the accumbens core and shell and the olfactory tubercle does not reflect the functional organization for amphetamine reward. Rats quickly learned to self-administer D-amphetamine into the medial shell or medial tubercle, whereas they failed to learn to do so into the accumbens core, ventral shell, or lateral tubercle. Our results suggest that primary reinforcement of amphetamine is mediated via the medial portion of the ventral striatum. Thus, the medial shell and medial tubercle are more functionally related than the medial and ventral shell or the medial and lateral tubercle. The current core-shell-tubercle scheme should be reconsidered in light of recent anatomical data and these functional findings.

Mesoscale studies of ionic closed membranes with polyhedral geometries

DOE PAGES

Olvera de la Cruz, Monica

2016-06-01

Large crystalline molecular shells buckle spontaneously into icosahedra while multicomponent shells buckle into various polyhedra. Continuum elastic theory explains the buckling of closed shells with one elastic component into icosahedra. A generalized elastic model, on the other hand, describes the spontaneous buckling of inhomogeneous shells into regular and irregular polyhedra. By coassembling water-insoluble anionic (–1) amphiphiles with cationic (3+) amphiphiles, we realized ionic vesicles. Results revealed that surface crystalline domains and the unusual shell shapes observed arise from the competition of ionic correlations with charge-regulation. We explain here the mechanism by which these ionic membranes generate a mechanically heterogeneous vesicle.

Mass Measurements Demonstrate a Strong N = 28 Shell Gap in Argon

DOE PAGES

Meisel, Z.; George, S.; Ahn, S.; ...

2015-01-15

We present results from recent time-of-flight nuclear mass measurements at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. We report the first mass measurements of 48Ar and 49Ar and find atomic mass excesses of -22.28(31) MeV and -17.8(1.1) MeV, respectively. These masses provide strong evidence for the closed shell nature of neutron number N = 28 in argon, which is therefore the lowest even-Z element exhibiting the N = 28 closed shell. The resulting trend in binding-energy differences, which probes the strength of the N = 28 shell, compares favorably with shell-model calculations in the sd-pf shell using SDPF-Umore » and SDPF-MU Hamiltonians.« less

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

Derbin, A. V., E-mail: derbin@pnpi.spb.r; Fomenko, K. A., E-mail: fomenko@jinr.r

The Pauli exclusion principle was tested for nucleons in the {sup 12}C nucleus by using data from the Borexino detector. The approach used consisted in seeking photons, neutrons, and protons, as well as electrons and positrons, emitted in the Pauli-forbidden transitions of nucleons from the 1P{sub 3/2} shell to the filled 1S{sub 1/2} shell. Owing to a uniquely low background level in the Borexino detector and its large mass, the currently most stringent experimental limits were obtained for the probabilities and relative intensities of Pauli-forbidden transitions for the electromagnetic, strong, and weak channels.

Comet Hartley 2 Gets a Visitor Artist Concept

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-10-26

This artist concept shows a view of NASA EPOXI mission spacecraft during its Nov. 4, 2010 flyby of comet Hartley 2. The fluffy shell around the comet, called a coma, is made up of gas and dust that blew off the comet core, or nucleus.

Arousal effect of caffeine depends on adenosine A2A receptors in the shell of the nucleus accumbens

PubMed Central

Lazarus, Michael; Shen, Hai-Ying; Cherasse, Yoan; Qu, Wei-Min; Huang, Zhi-Li; Bass, Caroline E.; Winsky-Sommerer, Raphaelle; Semba, Kazue; Fredholm, Bertil B.; Boison, Detlev; Hayaishi, Osamu; Urade, Yoshihiro; Chen, Jiang-Fan

2011-01-01

Caffeine, the most widely used psychoactive compound, is an adenosine receptor antagonist. It promotes wakefulness by blocking adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) in the brain, but the specific neurons on which caffeine acts to produce arousal have not been identified. Using selective gene deletion strategies based on the Cre/loxP technology in mice and focal RNA interference to silence the expression of A2ARs in rats by local infection with adeno-associated virus carrying short-hairpin RNA, we report that the A2ARs in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are responsible for the effect of caffeine on wakefulness. Caffeine-induced arousal was not affected in rats when A2ARs were focally removed from the NAc core or other A2AR-positive areas of the basal ganglia. Our observations suggest that caffeine promotes arousal by activating pathways that traditionally have been associated with motivational and motor responses in the brain. PMID:21734299

Alpha decay properties of the semi-magic nucleus 219Np

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, H. B.; Ma, L.; Zhang, Z. Y.; Yang, C. L.; Gan, Z. G.; Zhang, M. M.; Huang, M. H.; Yu, L.; Jiang, J.; Tian, Y. L.; Wang, Y. S.; Wang, J. G.; Liu, Z.; Liu, M. L.; Duan, L. M.; Zhou, S. G.; Ren, Z. Z.; Zhou, X. H.; Xu, H. S.; Xiao, G. Q.

2018-02-01

The semi-magic nucleus 219Np was produced in the fusion reaction 187Re(36Ar, 4n)219Np at the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS (Spectrometer for Heavy Atoms and Nuclear Structure). A fast electronics system based on waveform digitizers was used in the data acquisition and the sampled pulses were processed by digital algorithms. The reaction products were identified using spatial and time correlations between the implants and subsequent α decays. According to the observed α-decay chain, an energy of Eα = 9039 (40) keV and a half-life of T1/2 =0.15-0.07 + 0.72 ms were determined for 219Np. The deduced proton binding energy of 219Np fits well into the systematics, which gives another evidence of that there is no sub-shell closure at Z = 92. The influence of the N = 126 shell closure on the stability of Np isotopes is discussed within the framework of α-decay reduced widths.

Acute injection of drugs with low addictive potential (delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, lysergic acid diamide) causes a much higher c-fos expression in limbic brain areas than highly addicting drugs (cocaine and morphine).

PubMed

Erdtmann-Vourliotis, M; Mayer, P; Riechert, U; Höllt, V

1999-08-25

It is regarded as a common pharmacological property responsible for the addictive potential of drugs of abuse that they are able to activate brain areas involved in the sensation of pleasure, especially the nucleus accumbens. To investigate the connection between addictive potential and stimulation of critical brain areas in more detail, we studied c-fos accumulation in response to various addicting drugs in direct comparison. The substances were injected into drug-naive rats, and c-fos mRNA levels were measured throughout the brain by in situ hybridization. Cocaine in a high dose of 50 mg/kg yielded only a discrete c-fos expression in the medial and central striatum. Morphine (50 mg/kg) caused a weak c-fos synthesis in the lateral septum. THC (delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol), 25 mg/kg, induced c-fos mRNA again in the lateral septum and furthermore in large parts of the striatum including the nucleus accumbens. LSD (lysergic acid diamide), 1 mg/kg, elicited a similar c-fos expression pattern as THC, but there was additionally a very strong hybridization signal in the cerebral cortex, especially in the upper layers, and in the ventral part of the periaqueductal gray. The widest range of brain areas was activated by MDMA (3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 'ecstasy'), 6 mg/kg. In addition to the regions that responded to LSD, there was a very pronounced c-fos signal in the nucleus accumbens core and shell and in the mammillary nuclei. Taken together, our study revealed that the drugs with the highest addictive potential, cocaine and morphine, yielded a very low c-fos synthesis throughout the brain whereas the brain regions closely linked to pleasure (especially the nucleus accumbens) responded strongly to drugs with an apparently lower addictive potential (THC, LSD, MDMA).

Cross-shell excitations in Si 31

DOE PAGES

Tai, P. -L.; Tabor, S. L.; Lubna, R. S.; ...

2017-07-28

The Si-31 nucleus was produced through the O-18(18O, an) fusion-evaporation reaction at E-lab = 24 MeV. Evaporated a particles from the reaction were detected and identified in the Microball detector array for channel selection. Multiple gamma-ray coincidence events were detected in Gammasphere. The energy and angle information for the alpha particles was used to determine the Si-31 recoil kinematics on an event-by-event basis for a more accurate Doppler correction. A total of 22 new states and 52 new gamma transitions were observed, including 14 from states above the neutron separation energy. The positive-parity states predicted by the shell-model calculations inmore » the sd model space agree well with experiment. The negative-parity states were compared with shell-model calculations in the psdpf model space with some variations in the N = 20 shell gap. The best agreement was found with a shell gap intermediate between that originally used for A approximate to 20 nuclei and that previously adapted for P-32,P-34. This variation suggests the need for a more universal cross-shell interaction.« less

Yrast excitations of neutron-rich nuclei around doubly magic Tin-132

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharyya, Pallab Kumar

Investigation of the yrast structures of neutron-rich nuclei around the double closed shell nucleus 132Sn is important in the understanding of simple two-body nucleon-nucleon interactions in that region. However conventional fusion-evaporation methods do not populate these nuclei and β-decay studies are useful only in studying low spin states. The spectroscopy of these nuclei from thick target γ-γ coincidence measurements of deep inelastic heavy ion collisions as well as from fission fragment γ-ray studies using large multidetector arrays are presented in this thesis. Analyses of data from the 124Sn + 665 MeV 136Xe and 130Te + 272 MeV 64Ni deep inelastic experiments identified new yrast isomers in the N = 80 nuclei 134Xe and 136Ba which de- excite by γ-ray cascades concluding with their known 4+/to2+ and 2+/to0+ transitions. The isomeric decay characteristics are presented and discussed in light of the systematic features in N = 80 isotones. By analyzing fission product γ-ray data measured at Eurogam II using a 248Cm source, yrast level structures of the two-, three- and four-proton N = 82 isotones 134Te, 135I and 136Xe were developed, and the proton-proton interactions from the two-body nucleus 134Te were used in interpreting 135I and 136Xe levels using shell model calculations. From the same data the yrast states in the N = 83 isotones 134Sb, 135Te, 136I and 137Xe were explored, and key proton-neutron interactions were extracted from the 134Sb level spectrum which were used in interpreting the levels of the other N = 83 isotones. Similarly yrast states in previously unexplored N = 81 isotones 132Sb and 133Te were also identified and interpreted with shell model calculations; the 132Sb level spectrum yielded important proton-neutron hole interactions. Neutron core-excited states at higher energies were also identified in most of these nuclei. For establishing isotopic assignments of unknown cascades, the γgamma cross coincidences between heavy and light fission partners were vital. Overall, both deep inelastic and fission product studies have contributed to the exploration of an otherwise inaccessible region of the nuclidic chart. This opens up a new horizon in studying the structure of these important neutron-rich nuclei.

Freshwater Fossil Pearls from the Nihewan Basin, Early Early Pleistocene.

PubMed

Li, Su-Ping; Yao, Pei-Yi; Li, Jin-Feng; Ferguson, David Kay; Min, Long-Rui; Chi, Zhen-Qing; Wang, Yong; Yao, Jian-Xin; Sha, Jin-Geng

2016-01-01

Fossil blister pearls attached to the shells of an Anodonta mollusk from China, early Early Pleistocene, are reported here for the first time. The pearls were investigated in detail using a variety of methods. Micro-CT scanning of the fossil pearls was carried out to discover the inner structure and the pearl nucleus. Using CTAn software, changes in the gray levels of the biggest pearl, which reflect the changing density of the material, were investigated. The results provide us with some clues on how these pearls were formed. Sand grains, shell debris or material with a similar density could have stimulated the development of these pearls. X-ray diffraction analysis of one fossil pearl and the shell to which it was attached reveals that only aragonite exists in both samples. The internal structures of our fossil shells and pearls were investigated using a Scanning Electron Microscope. These investigations throw some light on pearl development in the past.

Reward system and addiction: what dopamine does and doesn't do.

PubMed

Di Chiara, Gaetano; Bassareo, Valentina

2007-02-01

Addictive drugs share with palatable food the property of increasing extracellular dopamine (DA), preferentially in the nucleus accumbens shell rather than in the core. However, by acting directly on the brain, drugs bypass the adaptive mechanisms (habituation) that constrain the responsiveness of accumbens shell DA to food reward, abnormally facilitating Pavlovian incentive learning and promoting the acquisition of abnormal DA-releasing properties by drug conditioned stimuli. Thus, whereas Pavlovian food conditioned stimuli release core but not shell DA, drug conditioned stimuli do the opposite, releasing shell but not core DA. This process, which results in the acquisition of excessive incentive-motivational properties by drug conditioned stimuli, initiates the drug addiction process. Neuroadaptive processes related to the chronic influence of drugs on subcortical DA might secondarily impair the function of prefronto-striatal loops, resulting in impairments in impulse control and decision making that form the basis for the compulsive feature of drug seeking and its relapsing character.

17O nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of water bound to a metal ion: A gadolinium(III) case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yazyev, Oleg V.; Helm, Lothar

2006-08-01

Rotational correlation times of metal ion aqua complexes can be determined from O17 NMR relaxation rates if the quadrupole coupling constant of the bound water oxygen-17 nucleus is known. The rotational correlation time is an important parameter for the efficiency of Gd3+ complexes as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. Using a combination of density functional theory with classical and Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations we performed a computational study of the O17 quadrupole coupling constants in model aqua ions and the [Gd(DOTA)(H2O)]- complex used in clinical diagnostics. For the inner sphere water molecule in the [Gd(DOTA)(H2O)]- complex the determined quadrupole coupling parameter χ√1+η2/3 of 8.7MHz is very similar to that of the liquid water (9.0MHz ). Very close values were also predicted for the the homoleptic aqua ions of Gd3+ and Ca2+. We conclude that the O17 quadrupole coupling parameters of water molecules coordinated to closed shell and lanthanide metal ions are similar to water molecules in the liquid state.

Selective increases in serotonin 5-HT1B/1D and 5-HT2A/2C binding sites in adult rat basal ganglia following lesions of serotonergic neurons.

PubMed

Compan, V; Segu, L; Buhot, M C; Daszuta, A

1998-05-18

Quantitative autoradiography was used to examine possible adaptive changes in serotonin 5-HT1B/1D and 5-HT2A/2C receptor binding sites in adult rat basal ganglia, after partial or severe lesions of serotonergic neurons produced by intraraphe injections of variable amounts of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine. In controls, the 5-HT1B/1D sites labeled with S-CM-G[125I]TNH2 were evenly distributed in the core and the shell of the nucleus accumbens. The density of 5-HT1B/1D sites was higher in the ventral than dorsal part of the striatum and no regional differences were detected along the rostrocaudal axis of the structure. The 5-HT2A/2C sites labeled with [125I]DOI were preferentially distributed in the mediodorsal striatum and higher densities were detected in the shell than core of the nucleus accumbens. Following 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine injections, there were no changes in binding of either receptor subtype after partial lesions entailing 80-90% 5-HT depletions. After severe 5-HT depletions (over 95%), large increases in 5-HT1B/1D binding were observed in the substantia nigra (78%), but no changes took place in the globus pallidus. Increases in 5-HT1B/1D binding were also detected in the shell of the nucleus accumbens (27%). Similar sized increases in 5-HT2A/2C binding (22%) were restricted to the medial striatum. The present results suggest a preferential association between 5-HT1B/1D receptors and the striatonigral neurons containing substance P, as indicated by the striatal distribution of these receptors and their selective increases in the substantia nigra after severe 5-HT deprivation. We recently proposed a similar relationship between the 5-HT4 receptors and the striatopallidal neurons containing met-enkephalin. Moreover, the increases in 5-HT1B/1D binding in the substantia nigra and in the shell of the nucleus accumbens reinforce the view of an implication of this receptor subtype in motor functions. In contrast, the prominent increases in 5-HT2A/2C binding after severe 5-HT deprivation as restricted to the medial region of the striatum and suggest up-regulation of most probably 5-HT2C receptors in a region implicated in cognitive functions. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B. V.

Differential Contributions of Nucleus Accumbens Subregions to Cue-Guided Risk/Reward Decision Making and Implementation of Conditional Rules.

PubMed

Floresco, Stan B; Montes, David R; Tse, Maric M T; van Holstein, Mieke

2018-02-21

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a key node within corticolimbic circuitry for guiding action selection and cost/benefit decision making in situations involving reward uncertainty. Preclinical studies have typically assessed risk/reward decision making using assays where decisions are guided by internally generated representations of choice-outcome contingencies. Yet, real-life decisions are often influenced by external stimuli that inform about likelihoods of obtaining rewards. How different subregions of the NAc mediate decision making in such situations is unclear. Here, we used a novel assay colloquially termed the "Blackjack" task that models these types of situations. Male Long-Evans rats were trained to choose between one lever that always delivered a one-pellet reward and another that delivered four pellets with different probabilities [either 50% (good-odds) or 12.5% (poor-odds)], which were signaled by one of two auditory cues. Under control conditions, rats selected the large/risky option more often on good-odds versus poor-odds trials. Inactivation of the NAc core caused indiscriminate choice patterns. In contrast, NAc shell inactivation increased risky choice, more prominently on poor-odds trials. Additional experiments revealed that both subregions contribute to auditory conditional discrimination. NAc core or shell inactivation reduced Pavlovian approach elicited by an auditory CS+, yet shell inactivation also increased responding during presentation of a CS-. These data highlight distinct contributions for NAc subregions in decision making and reward seeking guided by discriminative stimuli. The core is crucial for implementation of conditional rules, whereas the shell refines reward seeking by mitigating the allure of larger, unlikely rewards and reducing expression of inappropriate or non-rewarded actions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Using external cues to guide decision making is crucial for adaptive behavior. Deficits in cue-guided behavior have been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, which in turn has been linked to aberrant processing in the nucleus accumbens. However, many preclinical studies have often assessed risk/reward decision making in the absence of explicit cues. The current study fills that gap by using a novel task that allows for the assessment of cue-guided risk/reward decision making in rodents. Our findings identified distinct yet complementary roles for the medial versus lateral portions of this nucleus that provide a broader understanding of the differential contributions it makes to decision making and reward seeking guided by discriminative stimuli. Copyright © 2018 the authors 0270-6474/18/381901-14$15.00/0.

Nucleus accumbens GABAergic inhibition generates intense eating and fear that resists environmental retuning and needs no dopamine

PubMed Central

Richard, Jocelyn M.; Plawecki, Andrea M.; Berridge, Kent C.

2013-01-01

Intense fearful behavior and/or intense appetitive eating behavior can be generated by localized amino acid inhibitions along a rostrocaudal anatomical gradient within medial shell of nucleus accumbens of the rat. This can be produced by microinjections in medial shell of either the GABAA agonist muscimol (mimicking intrinsic GABAergic inputs) or the AMPA antagonist DNQX (disrupting corticolimbic glutamate inputs). At rostral sites in medial shell, each drug robustly stimulates appetitive eating and food intake, whereas at more caudal sites the same drugs instead produce increasingly fearful behaviors such as escape, distress vocalizations, and defensive treading (an antipredator behavior rodents emit to snakes and scorpions). Previously we showed that intense motivated behaviors generated by glutamate blockade require local endogenous dopamine and can be modulated in valence by environmental ambience. Here we investigated whether GABAergic generation of intense appetitive and fearful motivations similarly depends on local dopamine signals, and whether the valence of motivations generated by GABAergic inhibition can also be retuned by changes in environmental ambience. We report that the answer to both questions is ‘no’. Eating and fear generated by GABAergic inhibition of accumbens shell does not need endogenous dopamine. Also, the appetitive/fearful valence generated by GABAergic muscimol microinjections resists environmental retuning and is determined almost purely by rostrocaudal anatomical placement. These results suggest that NAc GABAergic release of fear and eating are relatively independent of modulatory dopamine signals, and more anatomically pre-determined in valence balance than release of the same intense behaviors by glutamate disruptions. PMID:23551138

Aversive Stimuli Differentially Modulate Real-Time Dopamine Transmission Dynamics within the Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell

PubMed Central

Badrinarayan, Aneesha; Wescott, Seth A.; Vander Weele, Caitlin M.; Saunders, Benjamin T.; Couturier, Brenann E.; Maren, Stephen

2012-01-01

Although fear directs adaptive behavioral responses, how aversive cues recruit motivational neural circuitry is poorly understood. Specifically, while it is known that dopamine (DA) transmission within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is imperative for mediating appetitive motivated behaviors, its role in aversive behavior is controversial. It has been proposed that divergent phasic DA transmission following aversive events may correspond to segregated mesolimbic dopamine pathways; however, this prediction has never been tested. Here, we used fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to examine real-time DA transmission within NAc core and shell projection systems in response to a fear-evoking cue. In male Sprague Dawley rats, we first demonstrate that a fear cue results in decreased DA transmission within the NAc core, but increased transmission within the NAc shell. We examined whether these changes in DA transmission could be attributed to modulation of phasic transmission evoked by cue presentation. We found that cue presentation decreased the probability of phasic DA release in the core, while the same cue enhanced the amplitude of release events in the NAc shell. We further characterized the relationship between freezing and both changes in DA as well as local pH. Although we found that both analytes were significantly correlated with freezing in the NAc across the session, changes in DA were not strictly associated with freezing while basic pH shifts in the core more consistently followed behavioral expression. Together, these results provide the first real-time neurochemical evidence that aversive cues differentially modulate distinct DA projection systems. PMID:23136417

Proton-hole and core-excited states in the semi-magic nucleus 131In82

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

Taprogge, J.; Jungclaus, A.; Grawe, H.

2016-11-01

The decay of the N = 83 nucleus Cd-131 has been studied at the RIBF facility at the RIKEN Nishina Center. The main purpose of the study was to identify the position of the and proton-hole states and the energies of core-excited configurations in the semi-magic nucleus In-131. From the radiation emitted following the decay, a level scheme of In-131 was established and the feeding to each excited state determined. Similarities between the single-particle transitions observed in the decays of the N = 83 isotones In-132 and Cd-131 are discussed. Finally the excitation energies of several core-excited configurations in In-131more » are compared to QRPA and shell-model calculations.« less

Evidence of Coherent K+ Meson Production in Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Z.; Marshall, C. M.; Aliaga, L.; Altinok, O.; Bellantoni, L.; Bercellie, A.; Betancourt, M.; Bodek, A.; Bravar, A.; Budd, H.; Cai, T.; Carneiro, M. F.; da Motta, H.; Dytman, S. A.; Díaz, G. A.; Eberly, B.; Endress, E.; Felix, J.; Fields, L.; Fine, R.; Galindo, R.; Gallagher, H.; Ghosh, A.; Golan, T.; Gran, R.; Harris, D. A.; Higuera, A.; Hurtado, K.; Kiveni, M.; Kleykamp, J.; Kordosky, M.; Le, T.; Maher, E.; Manly, S.; Mann, W. A.; Martinez Caicedo, D. A.; McFarland, K. S.; McGivern, C. L.; McGowan, A. M.; Messerly, B.; Miller, J.; Mislivec, A.; Morfín, J. G.; Mousseau, J.; Naples, D.; Nelson, J. K.; Norrick, A.; Nuruzzaman; Paolone, V.; Park, J.; Patrick, C. E.; Perdue, G. N.; Rakotondravohitra, L.; Ramirez, M. A.; Ransome, R. D.; Ray, H.; Ren, L.; Rimal, D.; Rodrigues, P. A.; Ruterbories, D.; Schellman, H.; Schmitz, D. W.; Simon, C.; Solano Salinas, C. J.; Tice, B. G.; Valencia, E.; Walton, T.; Wolcott, J.; Wospakrik, M.; Zavala, G.; Zhang, D.; Minerva Collaboration

2016-08-01

Neutrino-induced charged-current coherent kaon production νμA →μ-K+A is a rare, inelastic electroweak process that brings a K+ on shell and leaves the target nucleus intact in its ground state. This process is significantly lower in rate than the neutrino-induced charged-current coherent pion production because of Cabibbo suppression and a kinematic suppression due to the larger kaon mass. We search for such events in the scintillator tracker of MINERvA by observing the final state K+, μ-, and no other detector activity, and by using the kinematics of the final state particles to reconstruct the small momentum transfer to the nucleus, which is a model-independent characteristic of coherent scattering. We find the first experimental evidence for the process at 3 σ significance.

Excitations of one-valence-proton, one-valence-neutron nucleus {sup 210}Bi from cold-neutron capture

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

Cieplicka-Oryńczak, N.; Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Kraków; Fornal, B.

2015-10-15

The low-spin structure of one-proton, one-neutron {sup 210}Bi nucleus was investigated in cold-neutron capture reaction on {sup 209}Bi. The γ-coincidence measurements were performed with use of EXILL array consisted of 16 HPGe detectors. The experimental results were compared to shell-model calculations involving valence particles excitations. The {sup 210}Bi nucleus offers the potential to test the effective proton-neutron interactions because most of the states should arise from the proton-neutron excitations. Additionally, it was discovered that a few states should come from the couplings of valence particles to the 3{sup −} octupole vibration in {sup 208}Pb which provides also the possibility ofmore » testing the calculations involving the core excitations.« less

Glass shell manufacturing in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Downs, R. L.; Ebner, M. A.; Nolen, R. L., Jr.

1981-01-01

Highly-uniform, hollow glass spheres (shells), which are used for inertial confinement fusion targets, were formed from metal-organic gel powder feedstock in a vertical furnace. As a result of the rapid pyrolysis caused by the furnace, the gel is transformed to a shell in five distinct stages: (a) surface closure of the porous gel; (b) generation of a closed-cell foam structure in the gel; (c) spheridization of the gel and further expansion of the foam; (d) coalescence of the closed-cell foam to a single-void shell; and (e) fining of the glass shell. The heat transfer from the furnace to the falling gel particle was modeled to determine the effective heating rate of the gel. The model predicts the temperature history for a particle as a function of mass, dimensions, specific heat, and absorptance as well as furnace temperature profile and thermal conductivity of the furnace gas. A model was developed that predicts the gravity-induced degradation of shell concentricity in falling molten shells as a function of shell characteristics and time.

Project Physics Tests 6, The Nucleus.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA. Harvard Project Physics.

Test items relating to Project Physics Unit 6 are presented in this booklet. Included are 70 multiple-choice and 24 problem-and-essay questions. Nuclear physics fundamentals are examined with respect to the shell model, isotopes, neutrons, protons, nuclides, charge-to-mass ratios, alpha particles, Becquerel's discovery, gamma rays, cyclotrons,…

Quantum Tunneling Model of a P-N Junction in Silvaco

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-01

electrical characteristics of materials on a large scale. According to Niels Bohr, atoms are comprised of three subatomic particles: a negative...nucleus at a specific energy level known as an orbit or shell. The three subatomic particles are held together by the electrostatic force between the

The oxygen isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alex Brown, B.

The properties of the oxygen isotopes provide diverse examples of progress made in experiments and theory. This chain of isotopes has been studied from beyond the proton drip line in 12O to beyond the neutron drip line in 25,26O. This short survey starts with the microscopic G matrix approach for 18O of Kuo and Brown in the 1960's and shows how theory has evolved. The nuclear structure around the doubly-magic nucleus 24O is particularly simple in terms of the nuclear shell model. The nuclear structure around the doubly-magic nucleus 16O exhibits the coexistence of single-particle and collective structure.

On the symmetries of the 12C nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cseh, J.; Trencsényi, R.

The consequences of some symmetries of the three-alpha system are discussed. In particular, the recent description of the low-energy spectrum of the 12C nucleus in terms of the algebraic cluster model (ACM) is compared to that of the multichannel dynamical symmetry (MUSY), which is the intersection of the shell and cluster models. The previous one applies interactions of a D3h geometric symmetry [D. J. Marin-Lambarri et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113 (2014) 012502], while the latter one has a U(3) dynamical symmetry. The available data is in line with both descriptions.

Surface physicochemical properties and decay of the low-lying isomer in the 229Th nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borisyuk, P. V.; Kurel'chuk, U. N.; Vasil'ev, O. S.; Troyan, V. I.; Lebedinskii, Yu Yu; Tkalya, E. V.

2018-05-01

The effect of the 229Th nucleus proximity to the CsI surface on the decay probability of its anomalously low lying isomeric level is studied. Results of experimental and theoretical studies show that the CsI surface does not produce chemical bonding with Th and does not noticeably change its valence shells. Hence, it is an optimal substrate for measuring the probability of the 229Th isomer state decay via internal electron conversion. The half-life of the 229Thm isomer in the thorium atom is calculated for neutral chemical environment.

Neurons of human nucleus accumbens.

PubMed

Sazdanović, Maja; Sazdanović, Predrag; Zivanović-Macuzić, Ivana; Jakovljević, Vladimir; Jeremić, Dejan; Peljto, Amir; Tosevski, Jovo

2011-08-01

Nucleus accumbens is a part of the ventral striatum also known as a drug active brain region, especially related with drug addiction. The aim of the study was to investigate the Golgi morphology of the nucleus accumbens neurons. The study was performed on the frontal and sagittal sections of 15 human brains by the Golgi Kopsch method. We classified neurons in the human nucleus accumbens according to their morphology and size into four types: type I--fusiform neurons; type II--fusiform neurons with lateral dendrite, arising from a part of the cell body; type III--pyramidal-like neuron; type IV--multipolar neuron. The medium spiny neurons, which are mostly noted regarding to the drug addictive conditions of the brain, correspond to the type IV--multipolar neurons. Two regions of human nucleus accumbens could be clearly recognized on Nissl and Golgi preparations each containing different predominant neuronal types. Central part of nucleus accumbens, core region, has a low density of impregnated neurons with predominant type III, pyramidal-like neurons, with spines on secondary branches and rare type IV, multipolar neurons. Contrary to the core, peripheral region, shell of nucleus, has a high density of impregnated neurons predominantly contained of type I and type IV--multipolar neurons, which all are rich in spines on secondary and tertiary dendritic branches. Our results indicate great morphological variability of human nucleus accumbens neurons. This requires further investigations and clarifying clinical significance of this important brain region.

A role of nucleus accumbens dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens core, but not shell, in fear prediction error.

PubMed

Li, Susan S Y; McNally, Gavan P

2015-08-01

Two experiments used an associative blocking design to study the role of dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) and core (AcbC) in fear prediction error. Rats in the experimental groups were trained to a visual fear-conditioned stimulus (conditional stimulus [CS]) A in Stage I, whereas rats in the control groups were not. In Stage II, all rats received compound fear conditioning of the visual CSA and an auditory CSB. Rats were later tested for their fear responses to CSB. All rats received microinjections of saline or the D1-D2 receptor antagonist cis-(z)-flupenthixol prior to Stage II. These microinjections targeted either the AcbSh (Experiment 1) or the AcbC (Experiment 2). In each experiment, Stage I fear conditioning of CSA blocked fear learning to CSB. Microinjection of cis-(z)-flupenthixol (10 or 20 μg) into the AcbSh (Experiment 1) had no effect on fear learning or associative blocking. In contrast, microinjection of cis-(z)-flupenthixol (10 or 20 μg) into the AcbC (Experiment 2) attenuated blocking and so enabled fear learning to CSB. These results identify the AcbC as the critical locus for dopamine receptor contributions to fear prediction error and the associative blocking of fear learning. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Electronic structures of elements according to ionization energies.

PubMed

Zadeh, Dariush H

2017-11-28

The electronic structures of elements in the periodic table were analyzed using available experimental ionization energies. Two new parameters were defined to carry out the study. The first parameter-apparent nuclear charge (ANC)-quantified the overall charge of the nucleus and inner electrons observed by an outer electron during the ionization process. This parameter was utilized to define a second parameter, which presented the shielding ability of an electron against the nuclear charge. This second parameter-electron shielding effect (ESE)-provided an insight into the electronic structure of atoms. This article avoids any sort of approximation, interpolation or extrapolation. First experimental ionization energies were used to obtain the two aforementioned parameters. The second parameter (ESE) was then graphed against the electron number of each element, and was used to read the corresponding electronic structure. The ESE showed spikes/peaks at the end of each electronic shell, providing insight into when an electronic shell closes and a new one starts. The electronic structures of elements in the periodic table were mapped using this methodology. These graphs did not show complete agreement with the previously known "Aufbau" filling rule. A new filling rule was suggested based on the present observations. Finally, a new way to organize elements in the periodic table is suggested. Two earlier topics of effective nuclear charge, and shielding factor were also briefly discussed and compared numerically to demonstrate the capability of the new approach.

Gaps in nuclear spectra as traces of seniority changes in systems of both neutrons and protons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zamick, Larry

2016-03-01

There has been a great deal of attention given to the low-lying energy spectrum in a nucleus because of the abundance of experimental data. Likewise, perhaps to a lesser extent but still significant, the high end for a given configuration has been examined. Here, using single j shell calculations as a guide, we examine the middle part of the spectrum resulting from single j shell calculations. Seniority arguments are used to partially explain the midshell behaviors even though in general seniority is not a good quantum number for mixed systems of neutrons and protons.

Herpesvirus capsid assembly and DNA packaging

PubMed Central

Heming, Jason D.; Conway, James F.; Homa, Fred L.

2017-01-01

Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) is the causative agent of several pathologies ranging in severity from the common cold sore to life-threatening encephalitic infection. During productive lytic infection, over 80 viral proteins are expressed in a highly regulated manner, resulting in the replication of viral genomes and assembly of progeny virions. The virion of all herpesviruses consists of an external membrane envelope, a proteinaceous layer called the tegument, and an icosahedral capsid containing the double-stranded linear DNA genome. The capsid shell of HSV-1 is built from four structural proteins: a major capsid protein, VP5, which forms the capsomers (hexons and pentons), the triplex consisting of VP19C and VP23 found between the capsomers, and VP26 which binds to VP5 on hexons but not pentons. In addition, the dodecameric pUL6 portal complex occupies one of the 12 capsid vertices, and the capsid vertex specific component (CVSC), a heterotrimer complex of pUL17, pUL25 and pUL36 binds specifically to the triplexes adjacent to each penton. The capsid is assembled in the nucleus where the viral genome is packaged into newly assembled closed capsid shells. Cleavage and packaging of replicated, concatemeric viral DNA requires the seven viral proteins encoded by the UL6, UL15, UL17, UL25, UL28, UL32, and UL33 genes. Considerable advances have been made in understanding the structure of the herpesvirus capsid and the function of several of the DNA packaging proteins by applying biochemical, genetic, and structural techniques. This review is a summary of recent advances with respect to the structure of the HSV-1 virion capsid and what is known about the function of the seven packaging proteins and their interactions with each other and with the capsid shell. PMID:28528442

A circumferential crack in a cylindrical shell under tension.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duncan-Fama, M. E.; Sanders, J. L., Jr.

1972-01-01

A closed cylindrical shell under uniform internal pressure has a slit around a portion of its circumference. Linear shallow shell theory predicts inverse square-root-type singularities in certain of the stresses at the crack tips. This paper reports the computed strength of these singularities for different values of a dimensionless parameter based on crack length, shell radius and shell thickness.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor modulation of dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens shell is unaffected by phencyclidine pretreatment: In vitro assessment using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry rat brain slices.

PubMed

Gupta, Ishan; Young, Andrew M J

2018-05-15

The non-competitive glutamate antagonist, phencyclidine is used in rodents to model behavioural deficits see in schizophrenia. Importantly, these deficits endure long after the cessation of short-term chronic treatment (sub-chronic), indicating that the drug treatment causes long-term changes in the physiology and/or chemistry of the brain. There is evidence that this may occur through glutamatergic modulation of mesolimbic dopamine release, perhaps involving metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR). This study sought to investigate the effect of sub-chronic phencyclidine pretreatment on modulation of dopamine neurotransmission by metabotropic glutamate receptors 2 and 5 (mGluR2 and mGluR5) in the nucleus accumbens shell in vitro, with the hypothesis that phencyclidine pretreatment would disrupt the mGluR-mediated modulation of dopamine release. We showed that the orthosteric mGluR2 agonist LY379268 (0.1 µM, 1 µM and 10 µM) and mGluR5 positive allosteric modulator CDPPB (1 µM and 10 µM) both attenuated potassium-evoked dopamine release, underscoring their role in modulating dopamine neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens. Sub-chronic PCP treatment, which caused cognitive deficits measured by performance in the novel object recognition task, modelling aspects of behavioral deficits seen in schizophrenia, induced neurobiological changes that enhanced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, but had no effect on mGluR2 or mGluR5 mediated changes in dopamine release. Therefore it is unlikely that schizophrenia-related behavioural changes seen after sub-chronic phencyclidine pre-treatment are mediated through mGluR modulation of dopamine release. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improving the In-Medium Similarity Renormalization Group via approximate inclusion of three-body effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morris, Titus; Bogner, Scott

2016-09-01

The In-Medium Similarity Renormalization Group (IM-SRG) has been applied successfully to the ground state of closed shell finite nuclei. Recent work has extended its ability to target excited states of these closed shell systems via equation of motion methods, and also complete spectra of the whole SD shell via effective shell model interactions. A recent alternative method for solving of the IM-SRG equations, based on the Magnus expansion, not only provides a computationally feasible route to producing observables, but also allows for approximate handling of induced three-body forces. Promising results for several systems, including finite nuclei, will be presented and discussed.

α-Conotoxin MII-Sensitive Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell Regulate Progressive Ratio Responding Maintained by Nicotine

PubMed Central

Brunzell, Darlene H; Boschen, Karen E; Hendrick, Elizabeth S; Beardsley, Patrick M; McIntosh, J Michael

2010-01-01

β2 subunit containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (β2*nAChRs; asterisk (*) denotes assembly with other subunits) are critical for nicotine self-administration and nicotine-associated dopamine (DA) release that supports nicotine reinforcement. The α6 subunit assembles with β2 on DA neurons where α6β2*nAChRs regulate nicotine-stimulated DA release at neuron terminals. Using local infusion of α-conotoxin MII (α-CTX MII), an antagonist with selectivity for α6β2*nAChRs, the purpose of these experiments was to determine if α6β2*nAChRs in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell are required for motivation to self-administer nicotine. Long-Evans rats lever-pressed for 0.03 mg/kg, i.v., nicotine accompanied by light+tone cues (NIC) or for light+tone cues unaccompanied by nicotine (CUEonly). Following extensive training, animals were tested under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule that required an increasing number of lever presses for each nicotine infusion and/or cue delivery. Immediately before each PR session, rats received microinfusions of α-CTX MII (0, 1, 5, or 10 pmol per side) into the NAc shell or the overlying anterior cingulate cortex. α-CTX MII dose dependently decreased break points and number of infusions earned by NIC rats following infusion into the NAc shell but not the anterior cingulate cortex. Concentrations of α-CTX MII that were capable of attenuating nicotine self-administration did not disrupt locomotor activity. There was no effect of infusion on lever pressing in CUEonly animals and NAc infusion α-CTX MII did not affect locomotor activity in an open field. These data suggest that α6β2*nAChRs in the NAc shell regulate motivational aspects of nicotine reinforcement but not nicotine-associated locomotor activation. PMID:19890263

Evidence of coherent $$K^{+}$$ meson production in neutrino-nucleus scattering

DOE PAGES

Wang, Z.

2016-08-05

Neutrino-induced charged-current coherent kaon production ν μA→μ -K +A is a rare, inelastic electroweak process that brings a K + on shell and leaves the target nucleus intact in its ground state. This process is significantly lower in rate than the neutrino-induced charged-current coherent pion production because of Cabibbo suppression and a kinematic suppression due to the larger kaon mass. We search for such events in the scintillator tracker of MINERvA by observing the final state K +, μ -, and no other detector activity, and by using the kinematics of the final state particles to reconstruct the small momentummore » transfer to the nucleus, which is a model-independent characteristic of coherent scattering. Furthermore, we find the first experimental evidence for the process at 3σ significance.« less

Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptors in the Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell Mediate Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lex, Anja; Hauber, Wolfgang

2008-01-01

Pavlovian stimuli previously paired with food can markedly elevate the rate of food-reinforced instrumental responding. This effect, termed Pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT), depends both on general activating and specific cueing properties of Pavlovian stimuli. Recent evidence suggests that the general activating properties of Pavlovian…

The nuclear contacts and short range correlations in nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiss, R.; Cruz-Torres, R.; Barnea, N.; Piasetzky, E.; Hen, O.

2018-05-01

Atomic nuclei are complex strongly interacting systems and their exact theoretical description is a long-standing challenge. An approximate description of nuclei can be achieved by separating its short and long range structure. This separation of scales stands at the heart of the nuclear shell model and effective field theories that describe the long-range structure of the nucleus using a mean-field approximation. We present here an effective description of the complementary short-range structure using contact terms and stylized two-body asymptotic wave functions. The possibility to extract the nuclear contacts from experimental data is presented. Regions in the two-body momentum distribution dominated by high-momentum, close-proximity, nucleon pairs are identified and compared to experimental data. The amount of short-range correlated (SRC) nucleon pairs is determined and compared to measurements. Non-combinatorial isospin symmetry for SRC pairs is identified. The obtained one-body momentum distributions indicate dominance of SRC pairs above the nuclear Fermi-momentum.

Gamma-ray spectroscopy of 131Sn81 via the (9Be, 8Be γ) reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burcher, Sean; Bey, A.; Jones, K.; Ahn, S. H.; Ayres, A.; Schmitt, K. T.; Allmond, J.; Galindo-Urribari, A.; Radford, D. C.; Liang, J. F.; Neseraja, C. D.; Pain, S. D.; Pittman, S. T.; Smith, M. S.; Stracener, D. W.; Varner, R. L.; Bardayan, D. W.; O'Malley, P. D.; Cizewski, J. A.; Howard, M. E.; Manning, B. M.; Garcia Ruiz, R. F.; Kozub, R. L.; Matos, M.; Padilla-Rodal, E.

2016-09-01

Nuclear data in the region of the doubly-magic nucleus 132Sn82 is useful for benchmarking nuclear structure theories due to the clean single-particle nature of the nuclear wavefunction near the closed shells. At the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) neutron-rich beams in the 132Sn82 region were produced via proton-induced fission of a Uranium-Carbide target. The CLARION array of HPGe detectors was coupled with the HyBall array of CsI detectors to allow for particle-gamma coincidence measurements. The gamma-ray de-excitation of the four lowest lying single-neutron states has been observed for the first time via the (9Be,8Be γ) reaction. The excitation energy of these states have been measured to higher precision than was possible with the previous charged particle measurement. This work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.

GABA(A) and dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell differentially influence performance of a water-reinforced progressive ratio task.

PubMed

Covelo, Ignacio R; Wirtshafter, David; Stratford, Thomas R

2012-03-01

Several authors have shown that injections of the GABA(A) agonist muscimol into the medial shell region of the nucleus accumbens (AcbSh) result in large increases in food, but not water, intake. In previous studies we demonstrated that intra-AcbSh injections of either muscimol or of the indirect dopamine agonist amphetamine increase response output on a food-reinforced progressive ratio schedule. In the current experiment we extended these observations by examining the effects of muscimol and amphetamine injections on the performance of a water-reinforced progressive ratio task in mildly deprived animals. We found that muscimol did not affect the number of responses made in the water-reinforced task, even though a marked increase in responding was observed after amphetamine. Muscimol did, however, significantly increase food intake in the same animals. The results suggest that the enhancing effects of intra-AcbSh muscimol differ from those of amphetamine in that they are selective for food-reinforced behaviors. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The Explanation of the Pauli Exclusion Principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasiliev, Victor; Moon, Russell

2006-11-01

Using the principles of the Vortex Theory, the construction of the alpha particle, and the theory that the nucleus is constructed out of alpha particles, the explanation of the Pauli Exclusion Principle is explained. If protons and electrons are connected to each other via fourth dimensional vortices, they spin in opposite directions. Since the alpha particle possesses two protons possessing opposite spins, their electrons also possess opposite spins. With a nucleus constructed out of alpha particles, all paired electrons in shells and sub-shells will spin in opposite directions. 1. Victor Vasiliev, Russell Moon. Controversy surrounding the Experiment conducted to prove the Vortex Theory, 2006 8th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Section, May 18-20, 2006, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington, USA, Abstract C1.00009. 2. Russell Moon. To the Photon Acceleration Effect, 2006 Texas Section APS/AAPT/SPS Joint Spring Meeting, Thursday--Saturday, March 23--25, 2006; San Angelo, Texas, Abstract: POS.00008. 3. Russell Moon, Fabian Calvo, Victor Vasiliev. The Neutral Pentaquark, 2006 APS March Meeting, March 13-17, Baltimore, MD, USA, Session Q1: GENERAL POSTER SESSION, Abstract Q1.00147.

Effects of nucleus accumbens core and shell lesions on autoshaped lever-pressing.

PubMed

Chang, Stephen E; Holland, Peter C

2013-11-01

Certain Pavlovian conditioned stimuli (CSs) paired with food unconditioned stimuli (USs) come to elicit approach and even consumption-like behaviors in rats (sign-tracking). We investigated the effects of lesions of the nucleus accumbens core (ACbC) or shell (ACbS) on the acquisition of sign-tracking in a discriminative autoshaping procedure in which presentation of one lever CS was followed by delivery of sucrose, and another was not. Although we previously found that bilateral lesions of the whole ACb disrupted the initial acquisition of sign-tracking, neither ACbC or ACbS lesions affected the rate or percentage of trials in which rats pressed the CS+. In addition, detailed video analysis showed no effect of either lesion on the topography of the sign-tracking conditioned response (CR). These and other results from lesion studies of autoshaping contrast with those from previous sign-tracking experiments that used purely visual cues (Parkinson et al., 2000a,b), suggesting that the neural circuitry involved in assigning incentive value depends upon the nature of the CS. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Einstein observations of selected close binaries and shell stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guinan, E. F.; Koch, R. H.; Plavec, M. J.

1984-01-01

Several evolved close binaries and shell stars were observed with the IPC aboard the HEAO 2 Einstein Observatory. No eclipsing target was detected, and only two of the shell binaries were detected. It is argued that there is no substantial difference in L(X) for eclipsing and non-eclipsing binaries. The close binary and shell star CX Dra was detected as a moderately strong source, and the best interpretation is that the X-ray flux arises primarily from the corona of the cool member of the binary at about the level of Algol-like or RS CVn-type sources. The residual visible-band light curve of this binary has been modeled so as to conform as well as possible with this interpretation. HD 51480 was detected as a weak source. Substantial background information from IUE and ground scanner measurements are given for this binary. The positions and flux values of several accidentally detected sources are given.

Single-particle and collective motion in unbound deformed 39Mg

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fossez, K.; Rotureau, J.; Michel, N.; Liu, Quan; Nazarewicz, W.

2016-11-01

Background: Deformed neutron-rich magnesium isotopes constitute a fascinating territory where the interplay between collective rotation and single-particle motion is strongly affected by the neutron continuum. The unbound f p -shell nucleus 39Mg is an ideal candidate to study this interplay. Purpose: In this work, we predict the properties of low-lying resonant states of 39Mg, using a suite of realistic theoretical approaches rooted in the open quantum system framework. Method: To describe the spectrum and decay modes of 39Mg we use the conventional shell model, Gamow shell model, resonating group method, density matrix renormalization group method, and the nonadiabatic particle-plus-rotor model formulated in the Berggren basis. Results: The unbound ground state of 39Mg is predicted to be either a Jπ=7/2 - state or a 3/2 - state. A narrow Jπ=7/2 - ground-state candidate exhibits a resonant structure reminiscent of that of its one-neutron halo neighbor 37Mg, which is dominated by the f7 /2 partial wave at short distances and a p3 /2 component at large distances. A Jπ=3/2 - ground-state candidate is favored by the large deformation of the system. It can be associated with the 1/2 -[321 ] Nilsson orbital dominated by the ℓ =1 wave; hence its predicted width is large. The excited Jπ=1/2 - and 5 /2- states are expected to be broad resonances, while the Jπ=9/2 - and 11/2 - members of the ground-state rotational band are predicted to have very small neutron decay widths. Conclusion: We demonstrate that the subtle interplay between deformation, shell structure, and continuum coupling can result in a variety of excitations in an unbound nucleus just outside the neutron drip line.

Chronic Cocaine-Induced H3 Acetylation and Transcriptional Activation of CaMKIIα in the Nucleus Accumbens Is Critical for Motivation for Drug Reinforcement

PubMed Central

Wang, Lei; Lv, Zhigang; Hu, Zhaoyang; Sheng, Jian; Hui, Bin; Sun, Jie; Ma, Lan

2010-01-01

The regulation of gene expression in the brain reward regions is known to contribute to the pathogenesis and persistence of drug addiction. Increasing evidence suggests that the regulation of gene transcription is mediated by epigenetic mechanisms that alter the chromatin structure at specific gene promoters. To better understand the involvement of epigenetic regulation in drug reinforcement properties, rats were subjected to cocaine self-administration paradigm. Daily histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor infusions in the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) caused an upward shift in the dose-response curve under fixed-ratio schedule and increased the break point under progressive-ratio schedule, indicating enhanced motivation for self-administered drug. The effect of the HDAC inhibitor is attributed to the increased elevation of histone acetylation induced by chronic, but not acute, cocaine experience. In contrast, neutralizing the chronic cocaine-induced increase in histone modification by the bilateral overexpression of HDAC4 in the NAc shell reduced drug motivation. The association between the motivation for cocaine and the transcriptional activation of addiction-related genes by H3 acetylation in the NAc shell was analyzed. Among the genes activated by chronic cocaine experiences, the expression of CaMKIIα, but not CaMKIIβ, correlated positively with motivation for the drug. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA knockdown experiments showed that CaMKIIα, but not CaMKIIβ, in the NAc shell is essential for the maintenance of motivation to self-administered cocaine. These findings suggest that chronic drug-use-induced transcriptional activation of genes, such as CaMKIIα, modulated by H3 acetylation in the NAc is a critical regulatory mechanism underlying motivation for drug reinforcement. PMID:20010550

Cocaine self-administration abolishes associative neural encoding in the nucleus accumbens necessary for higher-order learning.

PubMed

Saddoris, Michael P; Carelli, Regina M

2014-01-15

Cocaine use is often associated with diminished cognitive function, persisting even after abstinence from the drug. Likely targets for these changes are the core and shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which are critical for mediating the rewarding aspects of drugs of abuse as well as supporting associative learning. To understand this deficit, we recorded neural activity in the NAc of rats with a history of cocaine self-administration or control subjects while they learned Pavlovian first- and second-order associations. Rats were trained for 2 weeks to self-administer intravenous cocaine or water. Later, rats learned a first-order Pavlovian discrimination where a conditioned stimulus (CS)+ predicted food, and a control (CS-) did not. Rats then learned a second-order association where, absent any food reinforcement, a novel cued (SOC+) predicted the CS+ and another (SOC-) predicted the CS-. Electrophysiological recordings were taken during performance of these tasks in the NAc core and shell. Both control subjects and cocaine-experienced rats learned the first-order association, but only control subjects learned the second-order association. Neural recordings indicated that core and shell neurons encoded task-relevant information that correlated with behavioral performance, whereas this type of encoding was abolished in cocaine-experienced rats. The NAc core and shell perform complementary roles in supporting normal associative learning, functions that are impaired after cocaine experience. This impoverished encoding of motivational behavior, even after abstinence from the drug, might provide a key mechanism to understand why addiction remains a chronically relapsing disorder despite repeated attempts at sobriety. Copyright © 2014 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Distinct Contributions of Dopamine in the Dorsolateral Striatum and Nucleus Accumbens Shell to the Reinforcing Properties of Cocaine

PubMed Central

Veeneman, Maartje M J; Broekhoven, Mark H; Damsteegt, Ruth; Vanderschuren, Louk J M J

2012-01-01

Dopaminergic neurotransmission in the dorsal and ventral striatum is thought to be involved in distinct aspects of cocaine addiction. Ventral striatal dopamine mediates the acute reinforcing properties of cocaine, whereas dopamine in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) is thought to become involved in later stages of the addiction process to mediate well-established cue-controlled drug seeking. However, it is unclear whether the DLS also has a role in the reinforcing properties of cocaine itself. Therefore, we systematically investigated the involvement of dopamine in dorsal and ventral striatal regions in cocaine self-administration, using various schedules of reinforcement in animals with limited drug taking experience. Intra-DLS infusion of the dopamine receptor antagonist α-flupenthixol did not affect the acquisition of cocaine self-administration, increased cocaine self-administration under a fixed ratio-1 (FR-1) schedule of reinforcement, caused a rightward and downward shift of the dose–response curve of cocaine under an FR-1 schedule of reinforcement and decreased responding for cocaine under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement. Infusion of α-flupenthixol into the ventral nucleus accumbens (NAcc) shell inhibited the acquisition of cocaine self-administration, reduced responding for the drug under FR-1 and PR schedules of reinforcement, and caused a downward shift of the dose–response curve of cocaine self-administration under an FR-1 schedule of reinforcement. These data show that dopamine in both the DLS and NAcc shell is involved in cocaine reinforcement. We suggest that the DLS and the NAcc shell mediate somewhat distinct facets of the reinforcing properties of cocaine, related to its rewarding and motivational aspects, respectively. PMID:21918505

Dopamine or opioid stimulation of nucleus accumbens similarly amplify cue-triggered 'wanting' for reward: entire core and medial shell mapped as substrates for PIT enhancement.

PubMed

Peciña, Susana; Berridge, Kent C

2013-05-01

Pavlovian cues [conditioned stimulus (CS+)] often trigger intense motivation to pursue and consume related reward [unconditioned stimulus (UCS)]. But cues do not always trigger the same intensity of motivation. Encountering a reward cue can be more tempting on some occasions than on others. What makes the same cue trigger more intense motivation to pursue reward on a particular encounter? The answer may be the level of incentive salience ('wanting') that is dynamically generated by mesocorticolimbic brain systems, influenced especially by dopamine and opioid neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) at that moment. We tested the ability of dopamine stimulation (by amphetamine microinjection) vs. mu opioid stimulation [by d-Ala, nMe-Phe, Glyol-enkephalin (DAMGO) microinjection] of either the core or shell of the NAc to amplify cue-triggered levels of motivation to pursue sucrose reward, measured with a Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) procedure, a relatively pure assay of incentive salience. Cue-triggered 'wanting' in PIT was enhanced by amphetamine or DAMGO microinjections equally, and also equally at nearly all sites throughout the entire core and medial shell (except for a small far-rostral strip of shell). NAc dopamine/opioid stimulations specifically enhanced CS+ ability to trigger phasic peaks of 'wanting' to obtain UCS, without altering baseline efforts when CS+ was absent. We conclude that dopamine/opioid stimulation throughout nearly the entire NAc can causally amplify the reactivity of mesocorticolimbic circuits, and so magnify incentive salience or phasic UCS 'wanting' peaks triggered by a CS+. Mesolimbic amplification of incentive salience may explain why a particular cue encounter can become irresistibly tempting, even when previous encounters were successfully resisted before. © 2013 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Cortical inter-hemispheric circuits for multimodal vocal learning in songbirds.

PubMed

Paterson, Amy K; Bottjer, Sarah W

2017-10-15

Vocal learning in songbirds and humans is strongly influenced by social interactions based on sensory inputs from several modalities. Songbird vocal learning is mediated by cortico-basal ganglia circuits that include the SHELL region of lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN), but little is known concerning neural pathways that could integrate multimodal sensory information with SHELL circuitry. In addition, cortical pathways that mediate the precise coordination between hemispheres required for song production have been little studied. In order to identify candidate mechanisms for multimodal sensory integration and bilateral coordination for vocal learning in zebra finches, we investigated the anatomical organization of two regions that receive input from SHELL: the dorsal caudolateral nidopallium (dNCL SHELL ) and a region within the ventral arcopallium (Av). Anterograde and retrograde tracing experiments revealed a topographically organized inter-hemispheric circuit: SHELL and dNCL SHELL , as well as adjacent nidopallial areas, send axonal projections to ipsilateral Av; Av in turn projects to contralateral SHELL, dNCL SHELL , and regions of nidopallium adjacent to each. Av on each side also projects directly to contralateral Av. dNCL SHELL and Av each integrate inputs from ipsilateral SHELL with inputs from sensory regions in surrounding nidopallium, suggesting that they function to integrate multimodal sensory information with song-related responses within LMAN-SHELL during vocal learning. Av projections share this integrated information from the ipsilateral hemisphere with contralateral sensory and song-learning regions. Our results suggest that the inter-hemispheric pathway through Av may function to integrate multimodal sensory feedback with vocal-learning circuitry and coordinate bilateral vocal behavior. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A non-LTE kinetic model for quick analysis of K-shell spectra from Z-pinch plasmas

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

Li, J., E-mail: s.duan@163.com; Huang, X. B., E-mail: s.duan@163.com; Cai, H. C., E-mail: s.duan@163.com

Analyzing and modeling K-shell spectra emitted by low-to moderate-atomic number plasma is a useful and effective way to retrieve temperature density of z-pinch plasmas. In this paper, a non-LTE population kinetic model for quick analysis of K-shell spectra was proposed. The model contains ionization stages from bare nucleus to neutral atoms and includes all the important atomic processes. In the present form of the model, the plasma is assumed to be both optically thin and homogeneous with constant temperature and density, and only steady-state situation is considered. According to the detailed calculations for aluminum plasmas, contours of ratios of certainmore » K-shell lines in electron temperature and density plane as well as typical synthesized spectra were presented and discussed. The usefulness of the model is demonstrated by analyzing the spectrum from a neon gas-puff Z-pinch experiment performed on a 1 MA pulsed-power accelerator.« less

Coulomb Excitation of n-rich nuclei along the N = 50 shell closure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Padilla-Rodal, E.; Galindo-Uribarri, A.; Batchelder, J. C.; Beene, J. R.; Bingham, C.; Brown, B. A.; Lagergren, K. B.; Mueller, P. E.; Radford, D. C.; Stracener, D. W.; Urrego-Blanco, J. P.; Varner, R. L.; Yu, C.-H.

2008-04-01

Recently, we have been investigating characteristics of nuclear states around the neutron-rich mass A=80 region [1]. Using the Radioactive Ion Beams (RIBs) produced at HRIBF, we have successfully measured the B(E2) values for ^78,80,82Ge , using Coulomb excitation in inverse kinematics. For the germanium isotopes, these data allow a study of the systematic trend between the subshell N= 40 and the N=50 shell. Using the same technique, we have measured the B(E2) value of various nuclei along the N=50 shell including the radioactive nucleus ^84Se. This value together with our previously measured ^82Ge, and the recent result on ^80Zn from ISOLDE [2] are providing basic experimental information needed for a better understanding of the neutron-rich nuclei around A˜80. We report the new results and compare with shell model calculations. [1] E. Padilla-Rodal et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 94 (2005) 122501. [2] J. Van de Walle et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99 (2007) 142501.

HDAC Inhibitors Restore the Capacity of Aged Mice to Respond to Haloperidol through Modulation of Histone Acetylation

PubMed Central

Montalvo-Ortiz, Janitza L; Keegan, Jack; Gallardo, Christopher; Gerst, Nicolas; Tetsuka, Kazuhiro; Tucker, Chris; Matsumoto, Mitsuyuki; Fang, Deyu; Csernansky, John G; Dong, Hongxin

2014-01-01

Antipsychotic drugs are widely prescribed to elderly patients for the treatment of a variety of psychopathological conditions, including psychosis and the behavioral disturbances associated with dementia. However, clinical experience suggests that these drugs may be less efficacious in the elderly individuals than in the young. Recent studies suggest that aging may be associated with epigenetic changes and that valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, may reverse such changes. However, it is not yet known whether HDAC inhibitors can modulate age-related epigenetic changes that may impact antipsychotic drug action. In this study, we analyzed conditioned avoidance response (CAR) and c-Fos expression patterns to elucidate the effect of HDAC inhibitors VPA and entinostat (MS-275) on behavioral and molecular markers of the effects of haloperidol (HAL) in aged mice. Our results showed that HAL administration failed to suppress the avoidance response during the CAR test, suggesting an age-related decrease in drug efficacy. In addition, HAL-induced c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens shell and prefrontal cortex was significantly lower in aged mice as compared with young mice. Pretreatment with VPA and MS-275 significantly improved HAL effects on the CAR test in aged mice. Also, VPA and MS-275 pretreatment restored HAL-induced increases in c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens shell and prefrontal cortex of aged mice to levels comparable with those observed in young mice. Lastly, but most importantly, increases in c-Fos expression and HAL efficacy in the CAR test of the HAL+VPA and HAL+MS-275 groups were correlated with elevated histone acetylation at the c-fos promoter region in aged mice. These findings suggest that pretreatment with VPA or MS-275 increases the behavioral and molecular effects of HAL in aged mice and that these effects occur via modulation of age-related histone hypoacetylation in the nucleus accumbens shell and prefrontal cortex. PMID:24366052

Pancake π–π Bonding Goes Double: Unexpected 4e/All-Sites Bonding in Boron- and Nitrogen-Doped Phenalenyls

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

Tian, Yong-Hui; Sumpter, Bobby G.; Du, Shiyu

Phenalenyl is an important neutral pi-radical due to its capability to form unconventional pancake pi-pi bonding interactions, whereas its analogues with graphitic boron (B) or nitrogen (N)-doping have been regarded as closed-shell systems and therefore received much less attention. By using high-level quantum chemistry calculations, we also show that the B- and N-doped closed-shell phenalenyls unexpectedly form open-shell singlet pi-dimers with diradicaloid character featuring 2e/all-sites double pi-pi bonding. Moreover, by proper substitutions, the doped phenalenyl derivatives can be made open-shell species that form closed shell singlet pi-dimers bound by stronger 4e/all-sites double pi-pi bonding. Moreover, covalent pi-pi bonding overlap ismore » distributed on all of the atomic sites giving robust and genuine pancake-shaped pi-dimers which, depending on the number of electrons available in the bonding interactions, are equally or more stable than the pi-dimers of the pristine phenalenyl.« less

Pancake π–π Bonding Goes Double: Unexpected 4e/All-Sites Bonding in Boron- and Nitrogen-Doped Phenalenyls

DOE PAGES

Tian, Yong-Hui; Sumpter, Bobby G.; Du, Shiyu; ...

2015-06-03

Phenalenyl is an important neutral pi-radical due to its capability to form unconventional pancake pi-pi bonding interactions, whereas its analogues with graphitic boron (B) or nitrogen (N)-doping have been regarded as closed-shell systems and therefore received much less attention. By using high-level quantum chemistry calculations, we also show that the B- and N-doped closed-shell phenalenyls unexpectedly form open-shell singlet pi-dimers with diradicaloid character featuring 2e/all-sites double pi-pi bonding. Moreover, by proper substitutions, the doped phenalenyl derivatives can be made open-shell species that form closed shell singlet pi-dimers bound by stronger 4e/all-sites double pi-pi bonding. Moreover, covalent pi-pi bonding overlap ismore » distributed on all of the atomic sites giving robust and genuine pancake-shaped pi-dimers which, depending on the number of electrons available in the bonding interactions, are equally or more stable than the pi-dimers of the pristine phenalenyl.« less

Structure of the exotic He 9 nucleus from the no-core shell model with continuum

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

Vorabbi, Matteo; Calci, Angelo; Navratil, Petr

2018-03-13

Here, the exotic 9He nucleus, which presents one of the most extreme neutron-to-proton ratios, belongs to the N = 7 isotonic chain famous for the phenomenon of ground-state parity inversion with decreasing number of protons. Consequently, it would be expected to have an unnatural (positive) parity ground state similar to 11Be and 10Li. Despite many experimental and theoretical investigations, its structure remains uncertain. Apart from the fact that it is unbound, other properties including the spin and parity of its ground state, and the very existence of additional low-lying resonances are still a matter of debate

The oxygen isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, B. Alex

The properties of the oxygen isotopes provide diverse examples of progress made in experiments and theory. This chain of isotopes has been studied from beyond the proton drip line in 12O to beyond the neutron drip line in 25,26O. This short survey starts with the microscopic G matrix approach for 18O of Kuo and Brown in the 1960’s and shows how theory has evolved. The nuclear structure around the doubly-magic nucleus 24O is particularly simple in terms of the nuclear shell model. The nuclear structure around the doubly-magic nucleus 16O exhibits the coexistence of single-particle and collective structure.

One-Neutron Removal Measurement Reveals {sup 24}O as a New Doubly Magic Nucleus

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

Kanungo, R.; Perro, C.; Nociforo, C.

The first measurement of the momentum distribution for one-neutron removal from {sup 24}O at 920A MeV performed at GSI, Darmstadt is reported. The observed distribution has a width (FWHM) of 99{+-}4 MeV/c in the projectile rest frame and a one-neutron removal cross section of 63{+-}7 mb. The results are well explained with a nearly pure 2s{sub 1/2} neutron spectroscopic factor of 1.74{+-}0.19 within the eikonal model. This large s-wave probability shows a spherical shell closure thereby confirming earlier suggestions that {sup 24}O is a new doubly magic nucleus.

Shape study of the N =Z nucleus 72Kr via β decay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briz, J. A.; Nácher, E.; Borge, M. J. G.; Algora, A.; Rubio, B.; Dessagne, Ph.; Maira, A.; Cano-Ott, D.; Courtin, S.; Escrig, D.; Fraile, L. M.; Gelletly, W.; Jungclaus, A.; Le Scornet, G.; Maréchal, F.; Miehé, Ch.; Poirier, E.; Poves, A.; Sarriguren, P.; Taín, J. L.; Tengblad, O.

2015-11-01

The β decay of the N =Z nucleus 72Kr has been studied with the total absorption spectroscopy technique at ISOLDE (CERN). A total B (GT) =0.79 (4 ) gA2/4 π has been found up to an excitation energy of 2.7 MeV. The B (GT) distribution obtained is compared with predictions from state-of-the-art theoretical calculations to learn about the ground state deformation of 72Kr. Although a dominant oblate deformation is suggested by direct comparison with quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) calculations, beyond-mean-field and shell-model calculations favor a large oblate-prolate mixing in the ground state.

In-Beam Gamma-ray Spectroscopy in the sdpf 37Ar Nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silveira, M. A. G.; Medina, N. H.; Seale, W. A.; Ribas, R. V.; de Oliveira, J. R. B.; Zilio, S.; Lenzi, S. M.; Napoli, D. R.; Marginean, N.; Vedova, F. Della; Farnea, E.; Ionescu-Bujor, M.; Iordachescu, A.

2007-10-01

The nucleus 37Ar has been studied with γ-ray spectroscopy in the 24Mg(16O,2pn) reaction at a beam energy of 70 MeV. Twenty two new excited states up to an excitation energy of 13 MeV have been observed. We compare the first negative and positive parity yrast states with large-scale-shell-model calculations using the Antoine code and the SDPF interaction, considering the excitation of the 1d5/2,2s1/2 and 1d3/2 nucleons to 1f7/2 and 2p3/2 in the sdpf valence space.

A Theoretical Investigation of the Infrared Spectroscopic Properties of Closed-Shell Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hudgins, Douglas M.; Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.; Allamandola, Louis J.; DeVincenzi, Donald L. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Density functional theory has been employed to calculate the harmonic frequencies and intensities of a range of PAH cations which explore both size and electronic structure effects on the infrared spectroscopic of these species. The sample extends the size range of PAH species considered to more than 50 carbon atoms and includes several representatives from each of two heretofore unexplored categories of PAH cations: (1) fully benzenoid PAH cations whose carbon skeleton is composed of an odd number of carbon atoms and (2) protonated PAH cations. Unlike the radical electronic structures of the PAH cations that have been the subject of previous theoretical and experimental work, the species in these two classes have a closed-shell electronic configuration. The calculated spectra of circumcoronene, C54H18, in both neutral and (radical) cationic form are also reported and compared to those of the other species. Closed-shell species are inherently less reactive than radical (or open-shell) cations and are known to play a role in combustion chemistry. Since interstellar PAHs are typically exposed to abundant atomic hydrogen and are thought to originate under pseudo-combustion conditions in carbon-rich circumstellar shells, such species may represent an important component of the interstellar PAH population. Furthermore, species larger than 50 carbon atoms are more representative of the size of the typical interstellar PAH. Overall, as has been the case for previous studies of PAH radical cations, the general pattern of band positions and intensities are consistent with that of the interstellar infrared emission spectrum. In addition, the spectra of closed-shell and open-shell cations are found to converge with increasing molecular size and are found to be relatively similar for species containing about 50 carbon atoms.

Double dissociation in the neural substrates of acute opiate dependence as measured by withdrawal-potentiated startle.

PubMed

Harris, A C; Atkinson, D M; Aase, D M; Gewirtz, J C

2006-01-01

The basolateral amygdala and portions of the "extended" amygdala (i.e. central nucleus of the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and shell of the nucleus accumbens) have been implicated in the aversive aspects of withdrawal from chronic opiate administration. Given that similar withdrawal signs are observed following a single opiate exposure, these structures may also play a role in "acute opiate dependence." In the current study, drug-naïve rats underwent naloxone-precipitated withdrawal from acute morphine (10 mg/kg) exposure on two successive days. On either the first or second day of testing, the basolateral amygdala, central nucleus of the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, or nucleus accumbens was temporarily inactivated immediately prior to naloxone injection by microinfusion of the glutamatergic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole proprionic acid receptor antagonist 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-nitro-2,3-dioxo-benzo(f)quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide (3 microg/0.5 microl). On the first day, inactivation of the basolateral amygdala, central nucleus of the amygdala, or bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, but not the nucleus accumbens blocked withdrawal-potentiated startle, a behavioral measure of the anxiogenic effects of withdrawal. On the second day, inactivation of the nucleus accumbens, but not the basolateral amygdala, central nucleus of the amygdala, or bed nucleus of the stria terminalis disrupted the withdrawal effect. Effects of structural inactivations on withdrawal-potentiated startle were not influenced by differences in withdrawal severity on the two days of testing. A fear-potentiated startle procedure provided functional confirmation of correct cannulae placement in basolateral amygdale- and central nucleus of the amygdala-implanted animals. Our findings indicate a double dissociation in the neural substrates of withdrawal-potentiated startle following a first versus second morphine exposure, and may reflect a reorganization of the neural circuitry underlying the expression of withdrawal-induced negative affect during the earliest stages of opiate dependence.

Oleamide administered into the nucleus accumbens shell regulates feeding behaviour via CB1 and 5-HT2C receptors.

PubMed

Soria-Gómez, Edgar; Márquez-Diosdado, Marianela I; Montes-Rodríguez, Corinne J; Estrada-González, Vicente; Prospéro-García, Oscar

2010-10-01

The central nervous system control of food intake has been extensively studied, hence, several neurotransmitter systems regulating this function are now clearly identified, for example, the endocannabinoid and serotoninergic systems. The former stimulates feeding while the latter inhibits it. Oleamide (Ole) is a cannabimimetic molecule affecting both systems. In this work, we tested the orexigenic and anorectic potential of Ole when administered into the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcS), a brain region that has been related to the orexigenic effects of cannabinoids. Additionally, we tested if Ole administered into this nucleus affects the activity of the hypothalamic nuclei involved in feeding behaviour, just as other cannabinoids do. We found a hyperphagic effect of Ole that is mediated through CB1 activation. The combination of Ole and the CB1 antagonist, AM251, produced a hypophagia that was fully blocked by SB212084, a 5-HT2C receptor antagonist. We also show that blockade of 5-HT2C and 5-HT2A receptors in the NAcS stimulates food intake. Finally, the combination of Ole and AM251 activates hypothalamic nuclei, an effect also blocked by SB242084. In conclusion, we show, for the first time, that Ole administered into the NAcS has a dual effect on feeding behaviour, acting through cannabinoid and serotonin receptors. These effects probably result from a downstream interaction with the hypothalamus.

Chronic stress may facilitate the recruitment of habit- and addiction-related neurocircuitries through neuronal restructuring of the striatum

PubMed Central

Taylor, S.B.; Anglin, J.M.; Paode, P.R.; Riggert, A.G.; Olive, M.F.; Conrad, C.D.

2014-01-01

Chronic stress is an established risk factor in the development of addiction. Addiction is characterized by a progressive transition from casual drug use to habitual and compulsive drug use. The ability of chronic stress to facilitate the transition to addiction may be mediated by increased engagement of the neurocircuitries underlying habitual behavior and addiction. In the present study, striatal morphology was evaluated after two weeks of chronic variable stress in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Dendritic complexity of medium spiny neurons was visualized and quantified with Golgi staining in the dorsolateral and dorsomedial striatum, as well as in the nucleus accumbens core and shell. In separate cohorts, the effects of chronic stress on habitual behavior and the acute locomotor response to methamphetamine were also assessed. Chronic stress resulted in increased dendritic complexity in the dorsolateral striatum and nucleus accumbens core, regions implicated in habitual behavior and addiction, while decreased complexity was found in the nucleus accumbens shell, a region critical for the initial rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. Chronic stress did not affect dendritic complexity in the dorsomedial striatum. A parallel shift toward habitual learning strategies following chronic stress was also identified. There was an initial reduction in acute locomotor response to methamphetamine, but no lasting effect as a result of chronic stress exposure. These findings suggest that chronic stress may facilitate the recruitment of habit- and addiction-related neurocircuitries through neuronal restructuring in the striatum. PMID:25242641

Measurement of Isobaric Analogue Resonances of 47Ar with the Active-Target Time Projection Chamber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bradt, Joshua William

While the nuclear shell model accurately describes the structure of nuclei near stability, the structure of unstable, neutron-rich nuclei is still an area of active research. One region of interest is the set of nuclei near N=28. The shell model suggests that these nuclei should be approximately spherical due to the shell gap predicted by their magic number of neutrons; however, experiments have shown that the nuclei in this region rapidly become deformed as protons are removed from the spherical 48Ca. This makes 46Ar a particularly interesting system as it lies in a transition region between 48Ca and lighter isotones that are known to be deformed. An experiment was performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) to measure resonant proton scattering on 46Ar. The resonances observed in this reaction correspond to unbound levels in the 47K intermediate state nucleus which are isobaric analogues of states in the 47Ar nucleus. By measuring the spectroscopic factors of these states in 47Ar, we gain information about the single-particle structure of this system, which is directly related to the size of the N=28 shell gap. Four resonances were observed: one corresponding to the ground state in 47Ar, one corresponding its first excited 1/2- state, and two corresponding to 1/2+ states in either 47Ar or the intermediate state nucleus. However, only a limited amount of information about these states could be recovered due to the low experimental statistics and limited angular resolution caused by pileup rejection and the inability to accurately reconstruct the beam particle track. In addition to the nuclear physics motivations, this experiment served as the radioactive beam commissioning for the Active-Target Time Projection Chamber (AT-TPC). The AT-TPC is a new gas-filled charged particle detector built at the NSCL to measure low-energy radioactive beams from the ReA3 facility. Since the gas inside the detector serves as both the tracking medium and the scattering target, reactions are measured over a continuous range of energies with near-4π solid angle coverage. This experiment demonstrated that tracks recorded by the AT-TPC can be reconstructed to a good resolution, and it established the feasibility of performing similar experiments with this detector in the future.

Changes in Appetitive Associative Strength Modulates Nucleus Accumbens, But Not Orbitofrontal Cortex Neuronal Ensemble Excitability.

PubMed

Ziminski, Joseph J; Hessler, Sabine; Margetts-Smith, Gabriella; Sieburg, Meike C; Crombag, Hans S; Koya, Eisuke

2017-03-22

Cues that predict the availability of food rewards influence motivational states and elicit food-seeking behaviors. If a cue no longer predicts food availability, then animals may adapt accordingly by inhibiting food-seeking responses. Sparsely activated sets of neurons, coined "neuronal ensembles," have been shown to encode the strength of reward-cue associations. Although alterations in intrinsic excitability have been shown to underlie many learning and memory processes, little is known about these properties specifically on cue-activated neuronal ensembles. We examined the activation patterns of cue-activated orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell ensembles using wild-type and Fos-GFP mice, which express green fluorescent protein (GFP) in activated neurons, after appetitive conditioning with sucrose and extinction learning. We also investigated the neuronal excitability of recently activated, GFP+ neurons in these brain areas using whole-cell electrophysiology in brain slices. Exposure to a sucrose cue elicited activation of neurons in both the NAc shell and OFC. In the NAc shell, but not the OFC, these activated GFP+ neurons were more excitable than surrounding GFP- neurons. After extinction, the number of neurons activated in both areas was reduced and activated ensembles in neither area exhibited altered excitability. These data suggest that learning-induced alterations in the intrinsic excitability of neuronal ensembles is regulated dynamically across different brain areas. Furthermore, we show that changes in associative strength modulate the excitability profile of activated ensembles in the NAc shell. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sparsely distributed sets of neurons called "neuronal ensembles" encode learned associations about food and cues predictive of its availability. Widespread changes in neuronal excitability have been observed in limbic brain areas after associative learning, but little is known about the excitability changes that occur specifically on neuronal ensembles that encode appetitive associations. Here, we reveal that sucrose cue exposure recruited a more excitable ensemble in the nucleus accumbens, but not orbitofrontal cortex, compared with their surrounding neurons. This excitability difference was not observed when the cue's salience was diminished after extinction learning. These novel data provide evidence that the intrinsic excitability of appetitive memory-encoding ensembles is regulated differentially across brain areas and adapts dynamically to changes in associative strength. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/373160-11$15.00/0.

Infralimbic Prefrontal Cortex Interacts with Nucleus Accumbens Shell to Unmask Expression of Outcome-Selective Pavlovianto- Instrumental Transfer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keistler, Colby; Barker, Jacqueline M.; Taylor, Jane R.

2015-01-01

Although several studies have examined the subcortical circuitry underlying Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT), the role of medial prefrontal cortex in this behavior is largely unknown. Elucidating the cortical contributions to PIT will be key for understanding how reward-paired cues control behavior in both adaptive and maladaptive context…

Touch-Initiated Reaction of Nitrogen Triiodide as a Template for Activation Energy Classroom Discussions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Short, Duncan

2017-01-01

Activation energies form an energy barrier to a chemical reaction taking place. Simple collision theory, i.e. that particles need to collide to react, would suggest that activation energy is the energy needed to overcome a coulombic barrier provided by the negatively charged electrons contained within energy shells surrounding an atomic nucleus.…

A simple polymeric model describes cell nuclear mechanical response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banigan, Edward; Stephens, Andrew; Marko, John

The cell nucleus must continually resist inter- and intracellular mechanical forces, and proper mechanical response is essential to basic cell biological functions as diverse as migration, differentiation, and gene regulation. Experiments probing nuclear mechanics reveal that the nucleus stiffens under strain, leading to two characteristic regimes of force response. This behavior depends sensitively on the intermediate filament protein lamin A, which comprises the outer layer of the nucleus, and the properties of the chromatin interior. To understand these mechanics, we study a simulation model of a polymeric shell encapsulating a semiflexible polymer. This minimalistic model qualitatively captures the typical experimental nuclear force-extension relation and observed nuclear morphologies. Using a Flory-like theory, we explain the simulation results and mathematically estimate the force-extension relation. The model and experiments suggest that chromatin organization is a dominant contributor to nuclear mechanics, while the lamina protects cell nuclei from large deformations.

Mapping and spectroscopy of the planetary nebula NGC 7009 in the visual and infrared

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phillips, J. P.; Cuesta, L. C.; Ramos-Larios, G.

2010-12-01

NGC 7009 is a fascinating example of a high-excitation, elliptical planetary nebula (PN) containing circumnebular rings, and FLIERs and jets along the major axis. We present visual spectroscopy along multiple position angles through the nucleus, taken with the Observatorio Astronomico Nacional (Mexico); mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and imaging acquired using the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) and Spitzer Space Telescope (SST), and narrow-band imaging obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The data show that the mid-infrared (MIR) continuum is dominated by a broad ≈100 K continuum, and a strong excess attributable to crystalline silicate emission. The primary peaks in this excess are similar to those observed in Forsterite and clino- and ortho-enstatite. The MIR images, by contrast, appear to be dominated by ionic transitions, with the ? 8.991 μm transition of [Ar III] being important in the 8.0-μm band. The morphology and size of the envelope are found to vary with wavelength, with the largest dimensions occurring at 8.0 μm - a trend which is also reflected in an increase in the 8.0 μm/4.5 μm and 5.8 μm/4.5 μm ratios with distance from the nucleus. The visual spectroscopy permits us to map density and temperature throughout the shell, and confirm that the lowest values of ne are located close to the ansae, where densities appear to be of the order of 900-2600 cm-3. We provide mean line intensities for 116 transitions in six regions of the shell, and use mapping to confirm a systematic increase in excitation in the outer portions of the envelope. We finally use the ground-based spectroscopy, and ratioing of HST images to investigate the presence of shocks in the ansae and interior envelope. It is concluded that line ratios in the ansae may be partially consistent with shock excitation, although these features are primarily dominated by photoionization. We also note evidence for shock excitation at the limits of the interior elliptical shell, and for multiple bow-shock structures centred upon the ansae. The orientations of the easterly bow-shocks may have varied over time, indicating precession of the collimating engine at a rate of ?, deg yr-1, whilst the outward splaying of the westerly ‘jet’ appears consistent with shock refraction modelling. We finally note that HST observations of the halo rings show them to have widths of the order of ˜1-3 arcsec, and steep changes in surface brightness consistent with local shock activity.

Variational Calculation of the Ground State of Closed-Shell Nuclei Up to $A$ = 40

DOE PAGES

Lonardoni, Diego; Lovato, Alessandro; Pieper, Steven C.; ...

2017-08-31

Variational calculations of ground-state properties of 4He, 16O and 40Ca are carried out employing realistic phenomenological two- and three-nucleon potentials. The trial wave function includes twoand three-body correlations acting on a product of single-particle determinants. Expectation values are evaluated with a cluster expansion for the spin-isospin dependent correlations considering up to five-body cluster terms. The optimal wave function is obtained by minimizing the energy expectation value over a set of up to 20 parameters by means of a nonlinear optimization library. We present results for the binding energy, charge radius, point density, single-nucleon momentum distribution, charge form factor, and Coulombmore » sum rule. We find that the employed three-nucleon interaction becomes repulsive for A ≥ 16. In 16O the inclusion of such a force provides a better description of the properties of the nucleus. In 40Ca instead, the repulsive behavior of the three-body interaction fails to reproduce experimental data for the charge radius and the charge form factor. We find that the high-momentum region of the momentum distributions, determined by the short-range terms of nuclear correlations, exhibit a universal behavior independent of the particular nucleus. The comparison of the Coulomb sum rules for 4He, 16O, and 40Ca reported in this work will help elucidate in-medium modifications of the nucleon form factors.« less

Dopamine in the nucleus accumbens core, but not shell, increases during signaled food reward and decreases during delayed extinction.

PubMed

Biesdorf, C; Wang, A-L; Topic, B; Petri, D; Milani, H; Huston, J P; de Souza Silva, M A

2015-09-01

Microdialysis studies in rat have generally shown that appetitive stimuli release dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core. Here we examined the release of DA in the NAc during delivery of reward (food) and during extinction of food reward in the freely moving animal by use of in vivo microdialysis and HPLC. Fifty-two male Wistar rats were trained to receive food reward associated with appearance of cue-lights in a Skinner-box during in vivo microdialysis. Different behavioral protocols were used to assess the effects of extinction on DA and its metabolites. Results Exp. 1: (a) During a 20-min period of cued reward delivery, DA increased significantly in the NAc core, but not shell subregion; (b) for the next 60min period half of the rats underwent immediate extinction (with the CS light presented during non-reward) and the other half did not undergo extinction to the cue lights (CS was not presented during non-reward). DA remained significantly increased in both groups, providing no evidence for a decrease in DA during extinction in either NAc core or shell regions. (c) In half of the animals of the group that was not subjected to extinction, the cue lights were turned on for 30min, thus, initiating extinction to cue CS at a 1h delay from the period of reward. In this group DA in the NAc core, but not shell, significantly decreased. Behavioral analysis showed that while grooming is an indicator of extinction-induced behavior, glances toward the cue-lights (sign tracking) are an index of resistance to extinction. Results Exp. 2: (a) As in Exp. 1, during a 30-min period of cued reward delivery, DA levels again increased significantly in the NAc core but not in the NAc shell. (b) When extinction (the absence of reward with the cue lights presented) was administered 24h after the last reward session, DA again significantly decreased in the NAc core, but not in the NAc shell. (a) These results confirm the importance of DA release in the NAc for reward-related states, with DA increasing in the core, but not shell subregion. (b) They provide first evidence that during the withholding of expected reward, DA decreases in the NAc core, but not shell region. (c) This decrease in DA appears only after a delay between delivery of reward and extinction likely due to it being masked by persisting DA release. We hypothesize the decrease in extinction-induced release of DA in the NAc core to be a marker for the despair/depression that is known to accompany the failure to obtain expected rewards/reinforcers. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hartley 2, Close Up

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-11-18

This image from the High-Resolution Instrument on NASA EPOXI mission spacecraft shows part of the nucleus of comet Hartley 2. The sun is illuminating the nucleus from the right. A distinct cloud of individual particles is visible.

Synthesis reactions and radioactive properties of transactinoid elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oganessian, Yu. Ts.

1994-10-01

It is well known that the heaviest elements of the periodic table have been synthesized in the cold fusion of magic nuclei of Pb with Z less than 26 ions. Because of dynamic limitations for fusion under strong Coulomb interaction of nuclei, the cross-sections of cold fusion reactions diminish exponentially with growing compound nucleus atomic number. For element Z = 110 produced in the reaction Pb-208(Ni-62,n)(sub 271)110, the expected cross-section is 10(exp -36) sq cm. In still more asymmetric reactions, when isotopes of actinoid elements irradiated with relatively light ions (Z less than or equal 12) are used as the target material, the compound nuclei possess an excitation energy of approx. 50 MeV. At this energy the nuclear shell effects are strongly suppressed and, as a result, in the case of hot compound nuclei of transactinoid elements the fission barrier is practically absent. The transition of these nuclei into the ground state depends strongly on the dynamic properties of the system with respect to the fission degree of freedom. Experimental studies were going on in two directions: (1) determination of the fission time by measuring the prefission neutrons (of Cf-Fm nuclei) in a wide interval of excitation energies; (2) direct synthesis of known nuclides with Z = 102-105 in reactions with ions of Ne-22, Mg-26, Al-27 and P-31 when final nuclei are produced in the ground state after the evaporation of five or six neutrons from the excited compound nuclei (E(sub x) = 50-60 MeV). The dependence of the reaction cross-section (HI, 5-6n) on the atomic number of the compound nucleus in different target-ion combinations points to the possibility of synthesizing new elements in hot fusion reactions. The advantage of these reactions arises from the use of neutron-rich nuclei like Cm-248 and Cf-249 which allows us to synthesize nuclei close to the deformed shell N = 162, for which a considerable growth of stability against spontaneous fission is predicted. Experimental set-ups and methods of detecting rare events of formation and decay of transactinide nuclei are described.

Differential mesocorticolimbic responses to palatable food in binge eating prone and binge eating resistant female rats.

PubMed

Sinclair, Elaine B; Culbert, Kristen M; Gradl, Dana R; Richardson, Kimberlei A; Klump, Kelly L; Sisk, Cheryl L

2015-12-01

Binge eating is a key symptom of many eating disorders (e.g. binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa binge/purge type), yet the neurobiological underpinnings of binge eating are poorly understood. The mesocorticolimbic reward circuit, including the nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex, is likely involved because this circuit mediates the hedonic value and incentive salience of palatable foods (PF). Here we tested the hypothesis that higher propensity for binge eating is associated with a heightened response (i.e., Fos induction) of the nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex to PF, using an animal model that identifies binge eating prone (BEP) and binge eating resistant (BER) rats. Forty adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were given intermittent access to PF (high fat pellets) 3×/week for 3 weeks. Based on a pattern of either consistently high or consistently low PF consumption across these feeding tests, 8 rats met criteria for categorization as BEP, and 11 rats met criteria for categorization as BER. One week after the final feeding test, BEP and BER rats were either exposed to PF in their home cages or were given no PF in their home cages for 1h prior to perfusion, leading to three experimental groups for the Fos analysis: BEPs given PF, BERs given PF, and a No PF control group. The total number of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) cells in the nucleus accumbens core and shell, and the cingulate, prelimbic, and infralimbic regions of the medial prefrontal cortex was estimated by stereological analysis. PF induced higher Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens shell and core and in the prelimbic and infralimbic cortex of BEP rats compared to No PF controls. Throughout the nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex, PF induced higher Fos expression in BEP than in BER rats, even after adjusting for differences in PF intake. Differences in the neural activation pattern between BEP and BER rats were more robust in prefrontal cortex than in nucleus accumbens. These data confirm that PF activates brain regions responsible for encoding the incentive salience and hedonic properties of PF, and suggest that binge eating proneness is associated with enhanced responses to PF in brain regions that exert executive control over food reward. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Differential mesocorticolimbic responses to palatable food in binge eating prone and binge eating resistant female rats

PubMed Central

Sinclair, Elaine B.; Culbert, Kristen M.; Gradl, Dana R.; Richardson, Kimberlei A.; Klump, Kelly L.; Sisk, Cheryl L.

2017-01-01

Binge eating is a key symptom of many eating disorders (e.g. binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa binge/purge type), yet the neurobiological underpinnings of binge eating are poorly understood. The mesocorticolimbic reward circuit, including the nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex, is likely involved because this circuit mediates the hedonic value and incentive salience of palatable foods (PF). Here we tested the hypothesis that higher propensity for binge eating is associated with a heightened response (i.e., Fos induction) of the nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex to PF, using an animal model that identifies binge eating prone (BEP) and binge eating resistant (BER) rats. Forty adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were given intermittent access to PF (high fat pellets) 3×/week for 3 weeks. Based on a pattern of either consistently high or consistently low PF consumption across these feeding tests, 8 rats met criteria for categorization as BEP, and 11 rats met criteria for categorization as BER. One week after the final feeding test, BEP and BER rats were either exposed to PF in their home cages or were given no PF in their home cages for 1 h prior to perfusion, leading to three experimental groups for the Fos analysis: BEPs given PF, BERs given PF, and a No PF control group. The total number of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) cells in the nucleus accumbens core and shell, and the cingulate, prelimbic, and infralimbic regions of the medial prefrontal cortex was estimated by stereological analysis. PF induced higher Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens shell and core and in the prelimbic and infralimbic cortex of BEP rats compared to No PF controls. Throughout the nucleus accumbens and medial pre-frontal cortex, PF induced higher Fos expression in BEP than in BER rats, even after adjusting for differences in PF intake. Differences in the neural activation pattern between BEP and BER rats were more robust in prefrontal cortex than in nucleus accumbens. These data confirm that PF activates brain regions responsible for encoding the incentive salience and hedonic properties of PF, and suggest that binge eating proneness is associated with enhanced responses to PF in brain regions that exert executive control over food reward. PMID:26459117

Shannon entropies and Fisher information of K-shell electrons of neutral atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekh, Golam Ali; Saha, Aparna; Talukdar, Benoy

2018-02-01

We represent the two K-shell electrons of neutral atoms by Hylleraas-type wave function which fulfils the exact behavior at the electron-electron and electron-nucleus coalescence points and, derive a simple method to construct expressions for single-particle position- and momentum-space charge densities, ρ (r) and γ (p) respectively. We make use of the results for ρ (r) and γ (p) to critically examine the effect of correlation on bare (uncorrelated) values of Shannon information entropies (S) and of Fisher information (F) for the K-shell electrons of atoms from helium to neon. Due to inter-electronic repulsion the values of the uncorrelated Shannon position-space entropies are augmented while those of the momentum-space entropies are reduced. The corresponding Fisher information are found to exhibit opposite behavior in respect of this. Attempts are made to provide some plausible explanation for the observed response of S and F to electronic correlation.

Influence of the Pauli exclusion principle and the polarization of nuclei on the nuclear part of the interaction potential in the 40Ca +40Ca system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nesterov, V. O.

2018-06-01

In the framework of the energy density method with the use of the wave function of the two-center shell model, the influence of the simultaneous account for the Pauli exclusion principle and the monopole and quadrupole polarizations of nuclei on the nuclear part of the potential of their interaction by the example of the 40Ca +40Ca system is considered. The calculations performed in the framework of the adiabatic approximation show that the consideration of the Pauli exclusion principle and the polarization of nuclei, especially the quadrupole one, essentially affects the nucleus-nucleus interaction potential.

Toward centrality determination at NICA/MPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galoyan, A. S.; Uzhinsky, V. V.

2017-03-01

Geometrical properties of nucleus-nucleus interactions at various centralities are calculated for the NICA energy range. A modified version of the Glauber Monte Carlo simulation code has been used for the calculations. It is shown that the geometrical properties of nucleus-nucleus interactions at the energies 5 - 10 GeV (NICA/MPD) and at energy 200 GeV (RHIC) are quite close to each other. A possible determination of centrality at NICA/MPD experiment using calculations of various Monte Carlo event generators are considered.

Chemoarchitecture and afferent connections of the "olfactostriatum": a specialized vomeronasal structure within the basal ganglia of snakes.

PubMed

Martinez-Marcos, Alino; Ubeda-Bañon, Isabel; Lanuza, Enrique; Halpern, Mimi

2005-01-01

The olfactostriatum, a portion of the striatal complex of snakes, is the major tertiary vomeronasal structure in the ophidian brain, receiving substantial afferents from the nucleus sphericus, the primary target of accessory olfactory bulb efferents. In the present study, we have characterized the olfactostriatum of garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) on the basis of chemoarchitecture (distribution of serotonin, neuropeptide Y and tyrosine hydroxylase) and hodology (afferent connections). The olfactostriatum is densely immunoreactive for serotonin and neuropeptide Y and shows moderate-to-weak immunoreactivity for tyrosine hydroxylase. In addition to afferents from the nucleus sphericus, the olfactostriatum receives inputs from the dorsal and lateral cortices, nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract, external and dorsolateral amygdalae, dorsomedial thalamic nucleus, ventral tegmental area and raphe nuclei. Double labeling experiments demonstrated that the distribution of serotonin and neuropeptide Y in this area almost completely overlaps the terminal field of projections from the nucleus sphericus. Also, serotonergic and dopaminergic innervation of the olfactostriatum likely arise, respectively, from the raphe nuclei and the ventral tegmental area, whereas local circuit neurons originate the neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity. These results indicate that the olfactostriatum of snakes could be a portion of the nucleus accumbens, with features characteristic of the accumbens shell, devoted to processing vomeronasal information. Comparative data suggest that a similar structure is present in the ventral striatum of amphibians and mammals.

Lateral hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens, and ventral pallidum roles in eating and hunger: interactions between homeostatic and reward circuitry

PubMed Central

Castro, Daniel C.; Cole, Shannon L.; Berridge, Kent C.

2015-01-01

The study of the neural bases of eating behavior, hunger, and reward has consistently implicated the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and its interactions with mesocorticolimbic circuitry, such as mesolimbic dopamine projections to nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral pallidum (VP), in controlling motivation to eat. The NAc and VP play special roles in mediating the hedonic impact (“liking”) and motivational incentive salience (“wanting”) of food rewards, and their interactions with LH help permit regulatory hunger/satiety modulation of food motivation and reward. Here, we review some progress that has been made regarding this circuitry and its functions: the identification of localized anatomical hedonic hotspots within NAc and VP for enhancing hedonic impact; interactions of NAc/VP hedonic hotspots with specific LH signals such as orexin; an anterior-posterior gradient of sites in NAc shell for producing intense appetitive eating vs. intense fearful reactions; and anatomically distributed appetitive functions of dopamine and mu opioid signals in NAc shell and related structures. Such findings help improve our understanding of NAc, VP, and LH interactions in mediating affective and motivation functions, including “liking” and “wanting” for food rewards. PMID:26124708

Deciphering the evolutionary history of open and closed mitosis

PubMed Central

Sazer, Shelley; Lynch, Michael; Needleman, Daniel

2014-01-01

Summary The origin of the nucleus at the prokaryote to eukaryote transition represents one of the most important events in the evolution of cellular organization. The nuclear envelope encircles the chromosomes in interphase and is a selectively permeable barrier between the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm and an organizational scaffold for the nucleus. It remains intact in the "closed" mitosis of some yeast but loses its integrity in the "open" mitosis of mammals. Instances of both types of mitosis within two evolutionary clades indicate multiple evolutionary transitions between open and closed mitosis, although the underlying genetic changes that influenced these transitions remain unknown. A survey of the diversity of mitotic nuclei that fall between these extremes is the starting point from which to determine the physiologically relevant characteristics distinguishing open from closed mitosis and to understand how they evolved and why they are retained in present-day organisms. The field is now poised to begin addressing these issues by defining and document patterns of mitotic nuclear variation within and among species and map them onto a phylogenic tree. Deciphering the evolutionary history of open and closed mitosis will complement cell biological and genetic approaches aimed at deciphering the fundamental organizational principles of the nucleus. PMID:25458223

Small size yet big action: a simple sulfate anion templated a discrete 78-nuclearity silver sulfur nanocluster with a multishell structure.

PubMed

Cheng, Li-Ping; Wang, Zhi; Wu, Qiao-Yu; Su, Hai-Feng; Peng, Tao; Luo, Geng-Geng; Li, Yan-An; Sun, Di; Zheng, Lan-Sun

2018-03-07

A discrete 78-nucleus silver-sulfur nanocluster with a sulfate-centered multishell structure was isolated and characterized. Its crystal structure revealed 18 and 60 Ag atoms in the inner and outer shell, respectively. The inner shell of 18-nuclearity Ag atoms is a very rare convex polyhedron featuring an elongated triangular orthobicupola. The incorporation of a sulfate anion and multishell arrangement in the nanocluster led to a dramatic decrease in the band gap (E g = 1.40 eV). Our study showed that simple anions can also induce the formation of high-nuclearity silver clusters with excellent optical properties.

LC and ferromagnetic resonance in soft/hard magnetic microwires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Bin; Vazquez, Manuel

2015-12-01

The magnetic behavior of soft/hard biphase microwires is introduced here. The microwires consist of a Co59.1Fe14.8Si10.2B15.9 soft magnetic nucleus and a Co90Ni10 hard outer shell separated by an intermediate insulating Pyrex glass microtube. By comparing the resistance spectrums of welding the ends of metallic core (CC) or welding the metallic core and outer shell (CS) to the connector, it is found that one of the two peaks in the resistance spectrum is because the LC resonance depends on the inductor and capacitors in which one is the capacitor between the metallic core and outer shell, and the other is between the outer shell and connector. Correspondingly, another peak is for the ferromagnetic resonance of metallic core. After changing the capacitance of the capacitors, the frequency of LC resonance moves to high frequency band, and furthermore, the peak of LC resonance in the resistance spectrum disappeared. These magnetostatically coupled biphase systems are thought to be of large potential interest as sensing elements in sensor devices.

Experimental analysis and numerical modeling of mollusk shells as a three dimensional integrated volume.

PubMed

Faghih Shojaei, M; Mohammadi, V; Rajabi, H; Darvizeh, A

2012-12-01

In this paper, a new numerical technique is presented to accurately model the geometrical and mechanical features of mollusk shells as a three dimensional (3D) integrated volume. For this purpose, the Newton method is used to solve the nonlinear equations of shell surfaces. The points of intersection on the shell surface are identified and the extra interior parts are removed. Meshing process is accomplished with respect to the coordinate of each point of intersection. The final 3D generated mesh models perfectly describe the spatial configuration of the mollusk shells. Moreover, the computational model perfectly matches with the actual interior geometry of the shells as well as their exterior architecture. The direct generation technique is employed to generate a 3D finite element (FE) model in ANSYS 11. X-ray images are taken to show the close similarity of the interior geometry of the models and the actual samples. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to provide information on the microstructure of the shells. In addition, a set of compression tests were performed on gastropod shell specimens to obtain their ultimate compressive strength. A close agreement between experimental data and the relevant numerical results is demonstrated. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Metabotropic Glutamate 2/3 Receptor Agonist LY379268 Blocked Nicotine-Induced Increases in Nucleus Accumbens Shell Dopamine only in the Presence of a Nicotine-Associated Context in Rats

PubMed Central

D'Souza, Manoranjan S; Liechti, Matthias E; Ramirez-Niño, Ana M; Kuczenski, Ronald; Markou, Athina

2011-01-01

The metabotropic glutamate 2/3 (mGlu2/3) receptor agonist LY379268 ([−]-2-oxa-4-aminobicyclo [3.1.0] hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate) attenuates both nicotine self-administration and cue-induced nicotine seeking in rats. In this study, the effects of LY379268 (1 mg/kg) or saline pretreatment on nicotine-induced increases in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) shell dopamine were evaluated using in vivo microdialysis under different experimental conditions: (i) nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, base) was experimenter-administered subcutaneously to nicotine-naïve rats; (ii) nicotine was experimenter-administered either subcutaneously (0.4 mg/kg) or by a single experimenter-administered infusion (0.06 mg/kg, base) in rats with a history of nicotine self-administration (nicotine experienced) in the absence of a nicotine-associated context (ie, context and cues associated with nicotine self-administration); (iii) nicotine (0.06 mg/kg) was self-administered or experimenter-administered in nicotine-experienced rats in the presence of a nicotine-associated context. In saline-pretreated nicotine-naïve and nicotine-experienced rats, nicotine increased NAcc shell dopamine regardless of the context used for testing. Interestingly, LY379268 pretreatment blocked nicotine-induced increases in NAcc shell dopamine in nicotine-experienced rats only when tested in the presence of a nicotine-associated context. LY379268 did not block nicotine-induced increases in NAcc shell dopamine in nicotine-naïve or -experienced rats tested in the absence of a nicotine-associated context. These intriguing findings suggest that activation of mGlu2/3 receptors negatively modulates the combined effects of nicotine and nicotine-associated contexts/cues on NAcc dopamine. Thus, these data highlight a critical role for mGlu2/3 receptors in context/cue-induced drug-seeking behavior and suggest a neurochemical mechanism by which mGlu2/3 receptor agonists may promote smoking cessation by preventing relapse induced by the combination of nicotine and nicotine-associated contexts and cues. PMID:21654734

D1 receptors in the nucleus accumbens-shell, but not the core, are involved in mediating ethanol-seeking behavior of alcohol-preferring (P) rats.

PubMed

Hauser, S R; Deehan, G A; Dhaher, R; Knight, C P; Wilden, J A; McBride, W J; Rodd, Z A

2015-06-04

Clinical and preclinical research suggest that activation of the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system is involved in mediating the rewarding actions of drugs of abuse, as well as promoting drug-seeking behavior. Inhibition of DA D1 receptors in the nucleus accumbens (Acb) can reduce ethanol (EtOH)-seeking behavior of non-selective rats triggered by environmental context. However, to date, there has been no research on the effects of D1 receptor agents on EtOH- seeking behavior of high alcohol-preferring (P) rats following prolonged abstinence. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of microinjecting the D1 antagonist SCH 23390 or the D1 agonist A-77636 into the Acb shell or Acb core on spontaneous recovery of EtOH-seeking behavior. After 10 weeks of concurrent access to EtOH and water, P rats underwent seven extinction sessions (EtOH and water withheld), followed by 2 weeks in their home cages without access to EtOH or operant sessions. In the 2nd week of the home cage phase, rats were bilaterally implanted with guide cannula aimed at the Acb shell or Acb core; rats were allowed 7d ays to recover before EtOH-seeking was assessed by the Pavlovian Spontaneous Recovery (PSR) model. Administration of SCH23390 (1μg/side) into the Acb shell inhibited responding on the EtOH lever, whereas administration of A-77636 (0.125μg/side) increased responding on the EtOH lever. Microinfusion of D1 receptor agents into the Acb core did not alter responding on the EtOH lever. Responses on the water lever were not altered by any of the treatments. The results suggest that activation of D1 receptors within the Acb shell, but not Acb core, are involved in mediating PSR of EtOH-seeking behavior of P rats. Copyright © 2015 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The limits of hamiltonian structures in three-dimensional elasticity, shells, and rods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Z.; Kruse, H. P.; Marsden, J. E.

1996-01-01

This paper uses Hamiltonian structures to study the problem of the limit of three-dimensional (3D) elastic models to shell and rod models. In the case of shells, we show that the Hamiltonian structure for a three-dimensional elastic body converges, in a sense made precise, to that for a shell model described by a one-director Cosserat surface as the thickness goes to zero. We study limiting procedures that give rise to unconstrained as well as constrained Cosserat director models. The case of a rod is also considered and similar convergence results are established, with the limiting model being a geometrically exact director rod model (in the framework developed by Antman, Simo, and coworkers). The resulting model may or may not have constraints, depending on the nature of the constitutive relations and their behavior under the limiting procedure. The closeness of Hamiltonian structures is measured by the closeness of Poisson brackets on certain classes of functions, as well as the Hamiltonians. This provides one way of justifying the dynamic one-director model for shells. Another way of stating the convergence result is that there is an almost-Poisson embedding from the phase space of the shell to the phase space of the 3D elastic body, which implies that, in the sense of Hamiltonian structures, the dynamics of the elastic body is close to that of the shell. The constitutive equations of the 3D model and their behavior as the thickness tends to zero dictates whether the limiting 2D model is a constrained or an unconstrained director model. We apply our theory in the specific case of a 3D Saint Venant-Kirchhoff material and derive the corresponding limiting shell and rod theories. The limiting shell model is an interesting Kirchhoff-like shell model in which the stored energy function is explicitly derived in terms of the shell curvature. For rods, one gets (with an additional inextensibility constraint) a one-director Kirchhoff elastic rod model, which reduces to the well-known Euler elastica if one adds an additional single constraint that the director lines up with the Frenet frame.

Chronic stress may facilitate the recruitment of habit- and addiction-related neurocircuitries through neuronal restructuring of the striatum.

PubMed

Taylor, S B; Anglin, J M; Paode, P R; Riggert, A G; Olive, M F; Conrad, C D

2014-11-07

Chronic stress is an established risk factor in the development of addiction. Addiction is characterized by a progressive transition from casual drug use to habitual and compulsive drug use. The ability of chronic stress to facilitate the transition to addiction may be mediated by increased engagement of the neurocircuitries underlying habitual behavior and addiction. In the present study, striatal morphology was evaluated after 2 weeks of chronic variable stress in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Dendritic complexity of medium spiny neurons was visualized and quantified with Golgi staining in the dorsolateral and dorsomedial striatum, as well as in the nucleus accumbens core and shell. In separate cohorts, the effects of chronic stress on habitual behavior and the acute locomotor response to methamphetamine were also assessed. Chronic stress resulted in increased dendritic complexity in the dorsolateral striatum and nucleus accumbens core, regions implicated in habitual behavior and addiction, while decreased complexity was found in the nucleus accumbens shell, a region critical for the initial rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. Chronic stress did not affect dendritic complexity in the dorsomedial striatum. A parallel shift toward habitual learning strategies following chronic stress was also identified. There was an initial reduction in acute locomotor response to methamphetamine, but no lasting effect as a result of chronic stress exposure. These findings suggest that chronic stress may facilitate the recruitment of habit- and addiction-related neurocircuitries through neuronal restructuring in the striatum. Copyright © 2014 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differential impact of pavlovian drug conditioned stimuli on in vivo dopamine transmission in the rat accumbens shell and core and in the prefrontal cortex.

PubMed

Bassareo, Valentina; De Luca, Maria Antonietta; Di Chiara, Gaetano

2007-04-01

Conditioned stimuli (CSs) by pavlovian association with reinforcing drugs (US) are thought to play an important role in the acquisition, maintenance and relapse of drug dependence. The aim of this study was to investigate by microdialysis the impact of pavlovian drug CSs on behaviour and on basal and drug-stimulated dopamine (DA) in three terminal DA areas: nucleus accumbens shell, core and prefrontal cortex (PFCX). Conditioned rats were trained once a day for 3 days by presentation of Fonzies filled box (FFB, CS) for 10 min followed by administration of morphine (1 mg/kg), nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) or saline, respectively. Pseudo-conditioned rats were presented with the FFB 10 h after drug or saline administration. Rats were implanted with microdialysis probes in the shell, core and PFCX. The effect of stimuli conditioned with morphine and nicotine on DA and on DA response to drugs was studied. Drug CSs elicited incentive reactions and released DA in the shell and PFCX but not in the core. Pre-exposure to morphine CS potentiated DA release to morphine challenge in the shell but not in the core and PFCX. This effect was related to the challenge dose of morphine and was stimulus-specific since a food CS did not potentiate the shell DA response to morphine. Pre-exposure to nicotine CS potentiated DA release in the shell and PFCX. The results show that drug CSs stimulate DA release in the shell and medial PFCX and specifically potentiate the primary stimulant drug effects on DA transmission.

Statistical theory of light nucleus reactions with 1p-shell light nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiaojun, Sun; Jingshang, Zhang

2017-09-01

The 1p-shell light elements (Li, Be, B, C, N, and O) had long been selected as the most important materials for improving neutron economy in thermal and fast fission reactors and in the design of accelerator-driven spallation neutron sources. A statistical theory of light nucleus reactions (STLN) is proposed to describe the double-differential cross sections for both neutron and light charged particle induced nuclear reactions with 1p-shell light nuclei. The dynamics of STLN is described by the unified Hauser-Feshbach and exciton model, in which the angular momentum and parity conservations are strictly considered in equilibrium and pre-equilibrium processes. The Coulomb barriers of the incoming and outgoing charged particles, which significantly influence the open channels of the reaction, can be reasonably considered in incident channel and different outgoing channels. In kinematics, the recoiling effects in various emission processes are strictly taken into account. The analytical energy and angular spectra of the reaction products in sequential and simultaneous emission processes are obtained in terms of the new integral formula proposed in our recent paper. Taking 12C(n, xn), 9Be(n, xn), 16O(n, xn), and 9Be(p,xn) reactions as examples, we had calculated the double-differential cross sections of outgoing neutrons and compared with the experimental data. In addition, we had also calculated the partition and total kerma coefficients for 12C(n, xn) and 16O(n, xn) reactions, respectively. The existing experimental data can be remarkably well reproduced by STLN, which had been used to set up file-6 in CENDL database.

A critical role of nucleus accumbens dopamine D1-family receptors in renewal of alcohol seeking after punishment-imposed abstinence.

PubMed

Marchant, Nathan J; Kaganovsky, Konstantin

2015-06-01

In humans, places or contexts previously associated with alcohol use often provoke relapse during abstinence. This phenomenon is modeled in laboratory animals using the ABA renewal procedure, in which extinction training in context (B) suppresses alcohol seeking, and renewal of this seeking occurs when the animal returns to the original training context (A). However, extinction training does not adequately capture the motivation for abstinence in human alcoholics who typically self-initiate abstinence in response to the negative consequences of excessive use. We recently developed a procedure to study renewal in laboratory rats after abstinence imposed by negative consequences (footshock punishment). The mechanisms of renewal of punished alcohol seeking are largely unknown. Here, we used the D1-family receptor antagonist SCH 23390 to examine the role of nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core dopamine in renewal of alcohol seeking after punishment-imposed abstinence. We trained alcohol-preferring "P rats" to self-administer 20% alcohol in Context A and subsequently suppressed alcohol taking via response-contingent footshock punishment in Context B. We tested the effects of systemic, NAc shell, or NAc core injections of SCH 23390 on renewal of alcohol seeking after punishment-imposed abstinence. We found that both systemic and NAc shell and core injections of SCH 23390 decreased renewal of punished alcohol seeking. Our results demonstrate a critical role of NAc dopamine in renewal of alcohol seeking after punishment-imposed abstinence. We discuss these results in reference to the brain mechanisms of renewal of alcohol seeking after extinction versus punishment. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Are Pericentric Inversions Reorganizing Wedge Shell Genomes?

PubMed Central

García-Souto, Daniel; Pérez-García, Concepción

2017-01-01

Wedge shells belonging to the Donacidae family are the dominant bivalves in exposed beaches in almost all areas of the world. Typically, two or more sympatric species of wedge shells differentially occupy intertidal, sublittoral, and offshore coastal waters in any given locality. A molecular cytogenetic analysis of two sympatric and closely related wedge shell species, Donax trunculus and Donax vittatus, was performed. Results showed that the karyotypes of these two species were both strikingly different and closely alike; whilst metacentric and submetacentric chromosome pairs were the main components of the karyotype of D. trunculus, 10–11 of the 19 chromosome pairs were telocentric in D. vittatus, most likely as a result of different pericentric inversions. GC-rich heterochromatic bands were present in both species. Furthermore, they showed coincidental 45S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 5S rRNA and H3 histone gene clusters at conserved chromosomal locations, although D. trunculus had an additional 45S rDNA cluster. Intraspecific pericentric inversions were also detected in both D. trunculus and D. vittatus. The close genetic similarity of these two species together with the high degree of conservation of the 45S rRNA, 5S rRNA and H3 histone gene clusters, and GC-rich heterochromatic bands indicate that pericentric inversions contribute to the karyotype divergence in wedge shells. PMID:29215567

Molecular Electronic Terms and Molecular Orbital Configurations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mazo, R. M.

1990-01-01

Discussed are the molecular electronic terms which can arise from a given electronic configuration. Considered are simple cases, molecular states, direct products, closed shells, and open shells. Two examples are provided. (CW)

A Relationship between Reduced Nucleus Accumbens Shell and Enhanced Lateral Hypothalamic Orexin Neuronal Activation in Long-Term Fructose Bingeing Behavior

PubMed Central

Rorabaugh, Jacki M.; Stratford, Jennifer M.; Zahniser, Nancy R.

2014-01-01

Fructose accounts for 10% of daily calories in the American diet. Fructose, but not glucose, given intracerebroventricularly stimulates homeostatic feeding mechanisms within the hypothalamus; however, little is known about how fructose affects hedonic feeding centers. Repeated ingestion of sucrose, a disaccharide of fructose and glucose, increases neuronal activity in hedonic centers, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core, but not the hypothalamus. Rats given glucose in the intermittent access model (IAM) display signatures of hedonic feeding including bingeing and altered DA receptor (R) numbers within the NAc. Here we examined whether substituting fructose for glucose in this IAM produces bingeing behavior, alters DA Rs and activates hedonic and homeostatic feeding centers. Following long-term (21-day) exposure to the IAM, rats given 8–12% fructose solutions displayed fructose bingeing but unaltered DA D1R or D2R number. Fructose bingeing rats, as compared to chow bingeing controls, exhibited reduced NAc shell neuron activation, as determined by c-Fos-immunoreactivity (Fos-IR). This activation was negatively correlated with orexin (Orx) neuron activation in the lateral hypothalamus/perifornical area (LH/PeF), a brain region linking homeostatic to hedonic feeding centers. Following short-term (2-day) access to the IAM, rats exhibited bingeing but unchanged Fos-IR, suggesting only long-term fructose bingeing increases Orx release. In long-term fructose bingeing rats, pretreatment with the Ox1R antagonist SB-334867 (30 mg/kg; i.p.) equally reduced fructose bingeing and chow intake, resulting in a 50% reduction in calories. Similarly, in control rats, SB-334867 reduced chow/caloric intake by 60%. Thus, in the IAM, Ox1Rs appear to regulate feeding based on caloric content rather than palatability. Overall, our results, in combination with the literature, suggest individual monosaccharides activate distinct neuronal circuits to promote feeding behavior. Specifically, long-term fructose bingeing activates a hyperphagic circuit composed in part of NAc shell and LH/PeF Orx neurons. PMID:24736531

Amphetamine Self-Administration and Dopamine Function: Assessment of Gene x Environment Interactions in Lewis and Fischer 344 Rats

PubMed Central

Meyer, Andrew C.; Bardo, Michael T.

2015-01-01

Rationale Previous research suggests both genetic and environmental influences on substance abuse vulnerability. Objectives The current work sought to investigate the interaction of genes and environment on the acquisition of amphetamine self-administration, as well as amphetamine-stimulated dopamine (DA) release in nucleus accumbens shell using in vivo microdialysis. Methods Inbred Lewis (LEW) and Fischer (F344) rat strains were raised in either an enriched condition (EC), social condition (SC), or isolated condition (IC). Acquisition of amphetamine self-administration (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) was determined across an incrementing daily fixed ratio (FR) schedule. In a separate cohort of rats, extracellular DA and the metabolite dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were measured in the nucleus accumbens shell following an acute amphetamine injection (1 mg/kg). Results “Addiction-prone” LEW had greater acquisition of amphetamine self-administration on a FR1 schedule compared to “addiction-resistant” F344 when raised in the SC environment. These genetic differences were negated in both the EC and IC environments, with enrichment buffering against self-administration and isolation enhancing self-administration in both strains. On a FR5 schedule, the isolation-induced increase in amphetamine self-administration was greater in F344 than LEW. While no group differences were obtained in extracellular DA, gene x environment differences were obtained in extracellular levels of the metabolite DOPAC. In IC rats only, LEW showed an attenuation in the amphetamine-induced decrease in DOPAC compared to F344. IC LEW rats also had an attenuated DOPAC response to amphetamine compared to EC LEW. Conclusions The current results demonstrate gene x environment interactions in amphetamine self-administration and amphetamine-induced changes in extracellular DOPAC in NAc shell. However, the behavioral and neurochemical differences were not related directly, indicating that mechanisms independent of DA metabolism in NAc shell likely mediate the gene x environment effects in amphetamine self-administration. PMID:25566972

Nicotine-induced Conditional Place Preference is Affected by Head Injury: Correlation with Dopamine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell.

PubMed

Yuan-Hao, Chen; Kuo, Tung-Tai; Huang, Eagle Yi-Kung; Hoffer, Barry J; Kao, Jen-Hsin; Chou, Yu-Ching; Chiang, Yung-Hsiao; Miller, Jonathan

2018-06-14

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to impact dopamine-mediated reward pathways, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully established. Nicotine-induced conditional place preference (CPP) was used to study rats exposed to a 6-psi fluid percussion injury (FPI) with and without prior exposure to nicotine. Preference was quantified as a score defined as (C1-C2) / (C1+C2), where C1 is time in the nicotine-paired compartment and C2 is time in the saline-paired compartment. Subsequent fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) was used to analyze the impact of nicotine infusion on dopamine release in the shell portion of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). To further determine the influence of brain injury on nicotine withdrawal, nicotine infusion was administered to the rats after FPI. The effects of FPI on CPP after prior exposure to nicotine and abstinence or withdrawal from nicotine were also assessed. After TBI, dopamine release was reduced in the NAc shell, and nicotine-induced CPP preference was significantly impaired. Preference scores of control, sham-injured, and FPI groups were 0.1627 ± 0.04204, 0.1515 ± 0.03806, and -0.001300 ± 0.04286, respectively. Nicotine-induced CPP was also seen in animals after nicotine pre-treatment, with a CPP score of 0.07805 ± 0.02838. Nicotine pre-exposure substantially increased tonic dopamine release in sham-injured animals, but it did not change phasic release; nicotine exposure after FPI enhanced phasic release, though not to the same levels seen in sham-injured rats. Conditioned preference was related not only to phasic dopamine release (r= 0.8110) but also to the difference between tonic and phasic dopamine levels (r= 0.9521). TBI suppresses dopamine release from the shell portion of the NAc, which in turn significantly alters reward-seeking behavior. These results have important implications for tobacco and drug use after TBI.

Production of n-rich Nuclei along the Closed Shell N=126 in the collision 136Xe + 208Pb @E lab =870 MeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quero, D.; Vardaci, E.; Kozulin, E. M.; Zagrebaev, V. A.; Corradi, L.; Pulcini, A.; La Rana, G.; Itkis, I. M.; Knyazheva, G. N.; Novikov, K.; Harca, I.; Fioretto, E.; Stefanini, A. M.; Montanari, D.; Montagnoli, G.; Scarlassara, F.; Szilner, S.; Mijatović, T.; Trzaska, W. H.

2018-05-01

Multi-nucleon transfer reactions are nowadays the only known mean to produce neutron-rich nuclei in the Terra Incognita. The closed-shell region N=126 is crucial for both studying shell-quenching in exotic nuclei and the r-process, being its last “waiting-point”. The choice of suitable reactions is challenging and a favorable case is 136Xe+208Pb, near the Coulomb barrier, because their neutron shell-closures play a stabilizing role, favoring the proton-transfer from lead to xenon. TOF-TOF data were analyzed to reconstruct the mass-energy distribution of the primary fragments. Preliminary results of an experiment held at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro with PRISMA, aimed at A and Z identification of the products, will be shown.

Reward magnitude tracking by neural populations in ventral striatum

PubMed Central

Fiallos, Ana M.; Bricault, Sarah J.; Cai, Lili X.; Worku, Hermoon A.; Colonnese, Matthew T.; Westmeyer, Gil; Jasanoff, Alan

2017-01-01

Evaluation of the magnitudes of intrinsically rewarding stimuli is essential for assigning value and guiding behavior. By combining parametric manipulation of a primary reward, medial forebrain bundle (MFB) microstimulation, with functional magnetic imaging (fMRI) in rodents, we delineated a broad network of structures activated by behaviorally characterized levels of rewarding stimulation. Correlation of psychometric behavioral measurements with fMRI response magnitudes revealed regions whose activity corresponded closely to the subjective magnitude of rewards. The largest and most reliable focus of reward magnitude tracking was observed in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Although the nonlinear nature of neurovascular coupling complicates interpretation of fMRI findings in precise neurophysiological terms, reward magnitude tracking was not observed in vascular compartments and could not be explained by saturation of region-specific hemodynamic responses. In addition, local pharmacological inactivation of NAc changed the profile of animals’ responses to rewards of different magnitudes without altering mean reward response rates, further supporting a hypothesis that neural population activity in this region contributes to assessment of reward magnitudes. PMID:27789262

Effects of a single bilateral infusion of R-ketamine in the rat brain regions of a learned helplessness model of depression.

PubMed

Shirayama, Yukihiko; Hashimoto, Kenji

2017-03-01

Effects of a single bilateral infusion of R-enantiomer of ketamine in rat brain regions of learned helplessness model of depression were examined. A single bilateral infusion of R-ketamine into infralimbic (IL) portion of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus showed antidepressant effects. By contrast, a single bilateral infusion of R-ketamine into prelimbic (PL) portion of mPFC, shell and core of nucleus accumbens, basolateral amygdala and central nucleus of the amygdala had no effect. This study suggests that IL of mPFC, CA3 and DG of hippocampus might be involved in the antidepressant actions of R-ketamine.

Long-lived K isomer and enhanced γ vibration in the neutron-rich nucleus 172Dy: Collectivity beyond double midshell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, H.; Zhang, G. X.; Yoshida, K.; Walker, P. M.; Liu, J. J.; Wu, J.; Regan, P. H.; Söderström, P.-A.; Kanaoka, H.; Korkulu, Z.; Lee, P. S.; Nishimura, S.; Yagi, A.; Ahn, D. S.; Alharbi, T.; Baba, H.; Browne, F.; Bruce, A. M.; Carroll, R. J.; Chae, K. Y.; Dombradi, Zs.; Doornenbal, P.; Estrade, A.; Fukuda, N.; Griffin, C.; Ideguchi, E.; Inabe, N.; Isobe, T.; Kanaya, S.; Kojouharov, I.; Kondev, F. G.; Kubo, T.; Kubono, S.; Kurz, N.; Kuti, I.; Lalkovski, S.; Lane, G. J.; Lee, C. S.; Lee, E. J.; Lorusso, G.; Lotay, G.; Moon, C.-B.; Nishizuka, I.; Nita, C. R.; Odahara, A.; Patel, Z.; Phong, V. H.; Podolyák, Zs.; Roberts, O. J.; Sakurai, H.; Schaffner, H.; Shand, C. M.; Shimizu, Y.; Sumikama, T.; Suzuki, H.; Takeda, H.; Terashima, S.; Vajta, Zs.; Valiente-Dóbon, J. J.; Xu, Z. Y.

2016-09-01

The level structure of 172Dy has been investigated for the first time by means of decay spectroscopy following in-flight fission of a 238U beam. A long-lived isomeric state with T1/2 = 0.71 (5) s and Kπ =8- has been identified at 1278 keV, which decays to the ground-state and γ-vibrational bands through hindered electromagnetic transitions, as well as to the daughter nucleus 172Ho via allowed β decays. The robust nature of the Kπ =8- isomer and the ground-state rotational band reveals an axially-symmetric structure for this nucleus. Meanwhile, the γ-vibrational levels have been identified at unusually low excitation energy compared to the neighboring well-deformed nuclei, indicating the significance of the microscopic effect on the non-axial collectivity in this doubly mid-shell region. The underlying mechanism of enhanced γ vibration is discussed in comparison with the deformed Quasiparticle Random-Phase Approximation based on a Skyrme energy-density functional.

A new near-linear scaling, efficient and accurate, open-shell domain-based local pair natural orbital coupled cluster singles and doubles theory.

PubMed

Saitow, Masaaki; Becker, Ute; Riplinger, Christoph; Valeev, Edward F; Neese, Frank

2017-04-28

The Coupled-Cluster expansion, truncated after single and double excitations (CCSD), provides accurate and reliable molecular electronic wave functions and energies for many molecular systems around their equilibrium geometries. However, the high computational cost, which is well-known to scale as O(N 6 ) with system size N, has limited its practical application to small systems consisting of not more than approximately 20-30 atoms. To overcome these limitations, low-order scaling approximations to CCSD have been intensively investigated over the past few years. In our previous work, we have shown that by combining the pair natural orbital (PNO) approach and the concept of orbital domains it is possible to achieve fully linear scaling CC implementations (DLPNO-CCSD and DLPNO-CCSD(T)) that recover around 99.9% of the total correlation energy [C. Riplinger et al., J. Chem. Phys. 144, 024109 (2016)]. The production level implementations of the DLPNO-CCSD and DLPNO-CCSD(T) methods were shown to be applicable to realistic systems composed of a few hundred atoms in a routine, black-box fashion on relatively modest hardware. In 2011, a reduced-scaling CCSD approach for high-spin open-shell unrestricted Hartree-Fock reference wave functions was proposed (UHF-LPNO-CCSD) [A. Hansen et al., J. Chem. Phys. 135, 214102 (2011)]. After a few years of experience with this method, a few shortcomings of UHF-LPNO-CCSD were noticed that required a redesign of the method, which is the subject of this paper. To this end, we employ the high-spin open-shell variant of the N-electron valence perturbation theory formalism to define the initial guess wave function, and consequently also the open-shell PNOs. The new PNO ansatz properly converges to the closed-shell limit since all truncations and approximations have been made in strict analogy to the closed-shell case. Furthermore, given the fact that the formalism uses a single set of orbitals, only a single PNO integral transformation is necessary, which offers large computational savings. We show that, with the default PNO truncation parameters, approximately 99.9% of the total CCSD correlation energy is recovered for open-shell species, which is comparable to the performance of the method for closed-shells. UHF-DLPNO-CCSD shows a linear scaling behavior for closed-shell systems, while linear to quadratic scaling is obtained for open-shell systems. The largest systems we have considered contain more than 500 atoms and feature more than 10 000 basis functions with a triple-ζ quality basis set.

A new near-linear scaling, efficient and accurate, open-shell domain-based local pair natural orbital coupled cluster singles and doubles theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saitow, Masaaki; Becker, Ute; Riplinger, Christoph; Valeev, Edward F.; Neese, Frank

2017-04-01

The Coupled-Cluster expansion, truncated after single and double excitations (CCSD), provides accurate and reliable molecular electronic wave functions and energies for many molecular systems around their equilibrium geometries. However, the high computational cost, which is well-known to scale as O(N6) with system size N, has limited its practical application to small systems consisting of not more than approximately 20-30 atoms. To overcome these limitations, low-order scaling approximations to CCSD have been intensively investigated over the past few years. In our previous work, we have shown that by combining the pair natural orbital (PNO) approach and the concept of orbital domains it is possible to achieve fully linear scaling CC implementations (DLPNO-CCSD and DLPNO-CCSD(T)) that recover around 99.9% of the total correlation energy [C. Riplinger et al., J. Chem. Phys. 144, 024109 (2016)]. The production level implementations of the DLPNO-CCSD and DLPNO-CCSD(T) methods were shown to be applicable to realistic systems composed of a few hundred atoms in a routine, black-box fashion on relatively modest hardware. In 2011, a reduced-scaling CCSD approach for high-spin open-shell unrestricted Hartree-Fock reference wave functions was proposed (UHF-LPNO-CCSD) [A. Hansen et al., J. Chem. Phys. 135, 214102 (2011)]. After a few years of experience with this method, a few shortcomings of UHF-LPNO-CCSD were noticed that required a redesign of the method, which is the subject of this paper. To this end, we employ the high-spin open-shell variant of the N-electron valence perturbation theory formalism to define the initial guess wave function, and consequently also the open-shell PNOs. The new PNO ansatz properly converges to the closed-shell limit since all truncations and approximations have been made in strict analogy to the closed-shell case. Furthermore, given the fact that the formalism uses a single set of orbitals, only a single PNO integral transformation is necessary, which offers large computational savings. We show that, with the default PNO truncation parameters, approximately 99.9% of the total CCSD correlation energy is recovered for open-shell species, which is comparable to the performance of the method for closed-shells. UHF-DLPNO-CCSD shows a linear scaling behavior for closed-shell systems, while linear to quadratic scaling is obtained for open-shell systems. The largest systems we have considered contain more than 500 atoms and feature more than 10 000 basis functions with a triple-ζ quality basis set.

Deciphering the evolutionary history of open and closed mitosis.

PubMed

Sazer, Shelley; Lynch, Michael; Needleman, Daniel

2014-11-17

The origin of the nucleus at the prokaryote-to-eukaryote transition represents one of the most important events in the evolution of cellular organization. The nuclear envelope encircles the chromosomes in interphase and is a selectively permeable barrier between the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm and an organizational scaffold for the nucleus. It remains intact in the 'closed' mitosis of some yeasts, but loses its integrity in the 'open' mitosis of mammals. Instances of both types of mitosis within two evolutionary clades indicate multiple evolutionary transitions between open and closed mitosis, although the underlying genetic changes that influenced these transitions remain unknown. A survey of the diversity of mitotic nuclei that fall between these extremes is the starting point from which to determine the physiologically relevant characteristics distinguishing open from closed mitosis and to understand how they evolved and why they are retained in present-day organisms. The field is now poised to begin addressing these issues by defining and documenting patterns of mitotic nuclear variation within and among species and mapping them onto a phylogenic tree. Deciphering the evolutionary history of open and closed mitosis will complement cell biological and genetic approaches aimed at deciphering the fundamental organizational principles of the nucleus. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Probing Compulsive and Impulsive Behaviors, from Animal Models to Endophenotypes: A Narrative Review

PubMed Central

Fineberg, Naomi A; Potenza, Marc N; Chamberlain, Samuel R; Berlin, Heather A; Menzies, Lara; Bechara, Antoine; Sahakian, Barbara J; Robbins, Trevor W; Bullmore, Edward T; Hollander, Eric

2010-01-01

Failures in cortical control of fronto-striatal neural circuits may underpin impulsive and compulsive acts. In this narrative review, we explore these behaviors from the perspective of neural processes and consider how these behaviors and neural processes contribute to mental disorders such as obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive–compulsive personality disorder, and impulse-control disorders such as trichotillomania and pathological gambling. We present findings from a broad range of data, comprising translational and human endophenotypes research and clinical treatment trials, focussing on the parallel, functionally segregated, cortico-striatal neural projections, from orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) to medial striatum (caudate nucleus), proposed to drive compulsive activity, and from the anterior cingulate/ventromedial prefrontal cortex to the ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens shell), proposed to drive impulsive activity, and the interaction between them. We suggest that impulsivity and compulsivity each seem to be multidimensional. Impulsive or compulsive behaviors are mediated by overlapping as well as distinct neural substrates. Trichotillomania may stand apart as a disorder of motor-impulse control, whereas pathological gambling involves abnormal ventral reward circuitry that identifies it more closely with substance addiction. OCD shows motor impulsivity and compulsivity, probably mediated through disruption of OFC-caudate circuitry, as well as other frontal, cingulate, and parietal connections. Serotonin and dopamine interact across these circuits to modulate aspects of both impulsive and compulsive responding and as yet unidentified brain-based systems may also have important functions. Targeted application of neurocognitive tasks, receptor-specific neurochemical probes, and brain systems neuroimaging techniques have potential for future research in this field. PMID:19940844

Pseudo-scalar pi N coupling and relativistic proton-nucleus scattering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gross, Franz; Maung, Khin Maung; Tjon, J. A.; Townsend, L. W.; Wallace, S. J.

1988-01-01

Relativistic p-Ca-40 elastic scattering observables are calculated using relativistic NN amplitudes obtained from the solution of a two-body relativistic equation in which one particle is kept on its mass-shell. Results at 200 MeV are presented for two sets of NN amplitudes, one with pure pseudo-vector coupling for the pion and another with a 25 percent admixture of pseudo-scaling coupling. Both give a very good fit to the positive energy on-shell NN data. Differences between the predictions of these two models (which are shown to be due only to the differences in their corresponding negative energy amplitudes) provide a measure of the uncertainty in contructing Dirac optical potentials from NN amplitudes.

An efficient parallel algorithm for the calculation of unrestricted canonical MP2 energies.

PubMed

Baker, Jon; Wolinski, Krzysztof

2011-11-30

We present details of our efficient implementation of full accuracy unrestricted open-shell second-order canonical Møller-Plesset (MP2) energies, both serial and parallel. The algorithm is based on our previous restricted closed-shell MP2 code using the Saebo-Almlöf direct integral transformation. Depending on system details, UMP2 energies take from less than 1.5 to about 3.0 times as long as a closed-shell RMP2 energy on a similar system using the same algorithm. Several examples are given including timings for some large stable radicals with 90+ atoms and over 3600 basis functions. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Jammed elastic shells - a 3D experimental soft frictionless granular system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jose, Jissy; Blab, Gerhard A.; van Blaaderen, Alfons; Imhof, Arnout

2015-03-01

We present a new experimental system of monodisperse, soft, frictionless, fluorescent labelled elastic shells for the characterization of structure, universal scaling laws and force networks in 3D jammed matter. The interesting fact about these elastic shells is that they can reversibly deform and therefore serve as sensors of local stress in jammed matter. Similar to other soft particles, like emulsion droplets and bubbles in foam, the shells can be packed to volume fractions close to unity, which allows us to characterize the contact force distribution and universal scaling laws as a function of volume fraction, and to compare them with theoretical predictions and numerical simulations. However, our shells, unlike other soft particles, deform rather differently at large stresses. They deform without conserving their inner volume, by forming dimples at contact regions. At each contact one of the shells buckled with a dimple and the other remained spherical, closely resembling overlapping spheres. We conducted 3D quantitative analysis using confocal microscopy and image analysis routines specially developed for these particles. In addition, we analysed the randomness of the process of dimpling, which was found to be volume fraction dependent.

Nonvolatile memory with Co-SiO2 core-shell nanocrystals as charge storage nodes in floating gate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hai; Ferrer, Domingo A.; Ferdousi, Fahmida; Banerjee, Sanjay K.

2009-11-01

In this letter, we reported nanocrystal floating gate memory with Co-SiO2 core-shell nanocrystal charge storage nodes. By using a water-in-oil microemulsion scheme, Co-SiO2 core-shell nanocrystals were synthesized and closely packed to achieve high density matrix in the floating gate without aggregation. The insulator shell also can help to increase the thermal stability of the nanocrystal metal core during the fabrication process to improve memory performance.

1p3/2 proton-hole state in 132Sn and the shell structure along N = 82.

PubMed

Taprogge, J; Jungclaus, A; Grawe, H; Nishimura, S; Doornenbal, P; Lorusso, G; Simpson, G S; Söderström, P-A; Sumikama, T; Xu, Z Y; Baba, H; Browne, F; Fukuda, N; Gernhäuser, R; Gey, G; Inabe, N; Isobe, T; Jung, H S; Kameda, D; Kim, G D; Kim, Y-K; Kojouharov, I; Kubo, T; Kurz, N; Kwon, Y K; Li, Z; Sakurai, H; Schaffner, H; Steiger, K; Suzuki, H; Takeda, H; Vajta, Zs; Watanabe, H; Wu, J; Yagi, A; Yoshinaga, K; Benzoni, G; Bönig, S; Chae, K Y; Coraggio, L; Covello, A; Daugas, J-M; Drouet, F; Gadea, A; Gargano, A; Ilieva, S; Kondev, F G; Kröll, T; Lane, G J; Montaner-Pizá, A; Moschner, K; Mücher, D; Naqvi, F; Niikura, M; Nishibata, H; Odahara, A; Orlandi, R; Patel, Z; Podolyák, Zs; Wendt, A

2014-04-04

A low-lying state in 131In82, the one-proton hole nucleus with respect to double magic 132Sn, was observed by its γ decay to the Iπ=1/2- β-emitting isomer. We identify the new state at an excitation energy of Ex=1353  keV, which was populated both in the β decay of 131Cd83 and after β-delayed neutron emission from 132Cd84, as the previously unknown πp3/2 single-hole state with respect to the 132Sn core. Exploiting this crucial new experimental information, shell-model calculations were performed to study the structure of experimentally inaccessible N=82 isotones below 132Sn. The results evidence a surprising absence of proton subshell closures along the chain of N=82 isotones. The consequences of this finding for the evolution of the N=82 shell gap along the r-process path are discussed.

Coulomb Excitation of Neutron-Rich Zn Isotopes: First Observation of the 21+ State in Zn80

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van de Walle, J.; Aksouh, F.; Ames, F.; Behrens, T.; Bildstein, V.; Blazhev, A.; Cederkäll, J.; Clément, E.; Cocolios, T. E.; Davinson, T.; Delahaye, P.; Eberth, J.; Ekström, A.; Fedorov, D. V.; Fedosseev, V. N.; Fraile, L. M.; Franchoo, S.; Gernhauser, R.; Georgiev, G.; Habs, D.; Heyde, K.; Huber, G.; Huyse, M.; Ibrahim, F.; Ivanov, O.; Iwanicki, J.; Jolie, J.; Kester, O.; Köster, U.; Kröll, T.; Krücken, R.; Lauer, M.; Lisetskiy, A. F.; Lutter, R.; Marsh, B. A.; Mayet, P.; Niedermaier, O.; Nilsson, T.; Pantea, M.; Perru, O.; Raabe, R.; Reiter, P.; Sawicka, M.; Scheit, H.; Schrieder, G.; Schwalm, D.; Seliverstov, M. D.; Sieber, T.; Sletten, G.; Smirnova, N.; Stanoiu, M.; Stefanescu, I.; Thomas, J.-C.; Valiente-Dobón, J. J.; van Duppen, P.; Verney, D.; Voulot, D.; Warr, N.; Weisshaar, D.; Wenander, F.; Wolf, B. H.; Zielińska, M.

2007-10-01

Neutron-rich, radioactive Zn isotopes were investigated at the Radioactive Ion Beam facility REX-ISOLDE (CERN) using low-energy Coulomb excitation. The energy of the 21+ state in Zn78 could be firmly established and for the first time the 2+→01+ transition in Zn80 was observed at 1492(1) keV. B(E2,21+→01+) values were extracted for Zn74,76,78,80 and compared to large scale shell model calculations. With only two protons outside the Z=28 proton core, Zn80 is the lightest N=50 isotone for which spectroscopic information has been obtained to date. Two sets of advanced shell model calculations reproduce the observed B(E2) systematics. The results for N=50 isotones indicate a good N=50 shell closure and a strong Z=28 proton core polarization. The new results serve as benchmarks to establish theoretical models, predicting the nuclear properties of the doubly magic nucleus Ni78.

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

Gurgi, L. A.; Regan, P. H.; Söderström, P. -A.

In-flight fission of a 345 MeV per nucleon 238U primary beam on a 2 mm thick 9Be target has been used to produce and study the decays of a range of neutron-rich nuclei centred around the doubly mid-shell nucleus 170Dy at the RIBF Facility, RIKEN, Japan. The produced secondary fragments of interest were identified event-by-event using the BigRIPS separator. The fragments were implanted into the WAS3ABI position sensitive silicon active stopper which allowed pixelated correlations between implants and their subsequent β-decay. Discrete γ-ray transitions emitted following decays from either metastable states or excited states populated following beta decay were identifiedmore » using the 84 coaxial high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors of the EURICA spectrometer, which was complemented by 18 additional cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3) fast-timing scintillation detectors from the FATIMA collaboration. This paper presents the internal decay of a metastable isomeric excited state in the odd-odd nucleus 168Tb, which corresponds to a single proton-neutron hole configuration in the valence maximum nucleus 170Dy. These data represent the first information on excited states in this nucleus, which is the most neutron-rich odd-odd isotope of terbium (Z=65) studied to date. Nilsson configurations associated with an axially symmetric, prolate-deformed nucleus are proposed for the 168Tb ground state the observed isomeric state by comparison with Blocked BCS-Nilsson calculations.« less

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

Gurgi, L. A.; Regan, P. H.; Söderström, P. -A.

In-flight fission of a 345 MeV per nucleon 238U primary beam on a 2 mm thick 9Be target has been used to produce and study the decays of a range of neutron-rich nuclei centred around the doubly mid-shell nucleus 170Dy at the RIBF Facility, RIKEN, Japan. The produced secondary fragments of interest were identified event-by-event using the BigRIPS separator. The fragments were implanted into the WAS3ABI position sensitive silicon active stopper which allowed pixelated correlations between implants and their subsequent β-decay. Discrete γ-ray transitions emitted following decays from either metastable states or excited states populated following beta decay were identifiedmore » using the 84 coaxial high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors of the EURICA spectrometer, which was complemented by 18 additional cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr 3) fast-timing scintillation detectors from the FATIMA collaboration. This paper presents the internal decay of a metastable isomeric excited state in the odd-odd nucleus 168Tb, which corresponds to a single proton-neutron hole configuration in the valence maximum nucleus 170Dy. These data represent the first information on excited states in this nucleus, which is the most neutron-rich odd-odd isotope of terbium (Z = 65) studied to date. Here, Nilsson configurations associated with an axially symmetric, prolate-deformed nucleus are proposed for the 168Tb ground state the observed isomeric state by comparison with Blocked BCS-Nilsson calculations.« less

Spin-dependent evolution of collectivity in 112Te

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doncel, M.; Bäck, T.; Qi, C.; Cullen, D. M.; Hodge, D.; Cederwall, B.; Taylor, M. J.; Procter, M.; Giles, M.; Auranen, K.; Grahn, T.; Greenlees, P. T.; Jakobsson, U.; Julin, R.; Juutinen, S.; HerzáÅ, A.; Konki, J.; Pakarinen, J.; Partanen, J.; Peura, P.; Rahkila, P.; Ruotsalainen, P.; Sandzelius, M.; Sarén, J.; Scholey, C.; Sorri, J.; Stolze, S.; Uusitalo, J.

2017-11-01

The evolution of collectivity with spin along the yrast line in the neutron-deficient nucleus 112Te has been studied by measuring the reduced transition probability of excited states in the yrast band. In particular, the lifetimes of the 4+ and 6+ excited states have been determined by using the recoil distance Doppler-shift method. The results are discussed using both large-scale shell-model and total Routhian surface calculations.

A Description of Exotic Nuclei by the Aid of Virtual States

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

Vertse, T.; University of Debrecen, Faculty of Information Science, H-4010 Debrecen, Pf. 12; Id Betan, R.

2005-11-21

A new unified shell model scheme is introduced in which the single particle basis is a generalization of the Berggren representation. This repesentation includes virtual i.e. antibound basis states as well. We apply the new scheme to the ground state of the exotic nucleus 11Li. Here the antibound pole and the complex continuum both have large contributions and neither of them can be neglected.

Low-lying dipole strength of the open-shell nucleus 94Mo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romig, C.; Beller, J.; Glorius, J.; Isaak, J.; Kelley, J. H.; Kwan, E.; Pietralla, N.; Ponomarev, V. Yu.; Sauerwein, A.; Savran, D.; Scheck, M.; Schnorrenberger, L.; Sonnabend, K.; Tonchev, A. P.; Tornow, W.; Weller, H. R.; Zilges, A.; Zweidinger, M.

2013-10-01

The low-lying dipole strength of the open-shell nucleus 94Mo was studied via the nuclear resonance fluorescence technique up to 8.7 MeV excitation energy at the bremsstrahlung facility at the Superconducting Darmstadt Electron Linear Accelerator (S-DALINAC), and with Compton backscattered photons at the High Intensity γ-ray Source (HIγS) facility. In total, 83 excited states were identified. Exploiting polarized quasi-monoenergetic photons at HIγS, parity quantum numbers were assigned to 41 states excited by dipole transitions. The electric dipole-strength distribution was determined up to 8.7 MeV and compared to microscopic calculations within the quasiparticle phonon model. Calculations and experimental data are in good agreement for the fragmentation, as well as for the integrated strength. The average decay pattern of the excited states was investigated exploiting the HIγS measurements at five energy settings. Mean branching ratios to the ground state and first excited 21+ state were extracted from the measurements with quasi-monoenergetic photons and compared to γ-cascade simulations within the statistical model. The experimentally deduced mean branching ratios exhibit a resonance-like maximum at 6.4 MeV which cannot be reproduced within the statistical model. This indicates a nonstatistical structure in the energy range between 5.5 and 7.5 MeV.

Isomers and shell evolution in neutron-rich nuclei below the doubly magic nucleus 132Sn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Hiroshi

2018-05-01

The level structures of the very neutron-rich nuclei 128Pd82 and 126Pd80 have been investigated for the first time. A new isomer with a half-life of 5.8(8) μs in 128Pd is proposed to have a spin and parity of 8+ and is associated with a maximally aligned configuration arising from the g9/2Pd proton subshell with seniority υ = 2. The level sequence below the 8+ isomer is similar to that in the N = 82 isotone 130Cd, but the electric quadrupole transition that depopulates the 8+ isomer is more hindered in 128Pd than in 130Cd, as expected in the seniority scheme for a semi-magic, spherical nucleus. For 126Pd, three new isomers with Jπ = (5-), (7-), and (10+) have been identified with half-lives of 0.33(4) μs, 0.44(3) μs, and 23.0(8) ms, respectively. The smaller energy difference between the 10+ and 7- isomers in 126Pd than in the heavier N = 80 isotones can be interpreted as being ascribed to the monopole shift of the h11/2 neutron orbit. The nature of the N = 82 shell closure scrutinized with these characteristic isomers is discussed.

Extinction and Reinstatement of Cocaine-seeking in Self-administering Mice is Associated with Bidirectional AMPAR-mediated Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell.

PubMed

Ebner, Stephanie R; Larson, Erin B; Hearing, Matthew C; Ingebretson, Anna E; Thomas, Mark J

2018-06-07

Experience-dependent synaptic plasticity is an important component of both learning and motivational disturbances found in addicted individuals. Here, we investigated the role of cocaine experience-dependent plasticity at excitatory synapses in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) in relapse-related behavior in mice with a history of volitional cocaine self-administration. Using an extinction/reinstatement paradigm of cocaine-seeking behavior, we demonstrate that cocaine-experienced mice with extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior show potentiation of synaptic strength at excitatory inputs onto NAcSh medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Conversely, we found that exposure to various distinct types of reinstating stimuli (cocaine, cocaine-associated cues, yohimbine "stress") after extinction can produce a relative depotentiation of NAcSh synapses that is strongly associated with the magnitude of cocaine-seeking behavior exhibited in response to these challenges. Furthermore, we show that these effects are due to α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR)-specific mechanisms that differ depending on the nature and context of the reinstatement-inducing stimuli. Together, our findings identify common themes as well as differential mechanisms that are likely important for the ability of diverse environmental stimuli to drive relapse to addictive-like cocaine-seeking behavior. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Effects of chronic social defeat on social behaviors in adult female mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus): Involvement of the oxytocin system in the nucleus accumbens.

PubMed

Wang, Limin; Hou, Wenjuan; He, Zhixiong; Yuan, Wei; Yang, Jinfeng; Yang, Yang; Jia, Rui; Zhu, Zhenxiang; Zhou, Yue; Tai, Fadao

2018-03-02

Chronic social defeat affects many aspects of behavior. Most previous studies have focused on effects on males and defeat during adolescence. The extents to which chronic social defeat can impact female social behavior in adulthood and the neural mechanisms of such effects are poorly understood. Using highly social and aggressive female mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus), the present study found that chronic social defeat reduced social preference in adult females, and that the defeated voles exhibited a high level of freeze, self-grooming and defensive behavior, as well as reduced exploration, intimacy and aggression during social interactions. Furthermore, chronic social defeat reduced levels of oxytocin (OT) and OT receptors (OTR) in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens (NACC). Intra-NACC shell OT microinjections reversed alterations in social behavior induced by chronic social defeat, whereas injections of an OTR antagonist (OTR-A) blocked the effects of OT. Taken together, our data demonstrate that chronic social defeat suppresses measures of sociability, and that these effects are mediated by the action of OT on the OTR in the NACC. NACC OT may be a promising target to treat socio-emotional disorders induced by chronic social stress. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

D1 and D2 antagonists reverse the effects of appetite suppressants on weight loss, food intake, locomotion, and rebalance spiking inhibition in the rat NAc shell

PubMed Central

Kalyanasundar, B.; Perez, Claudia I.; Luna, Alvaro; Solorio, Jessica; Moreno, Mario G.; Elias, David; Simon, Sidney A.

2015-01-01

Obesity is a worldwide health problem that has reached epidemic proportions. To ameliorate this problem, one approach is the use of appetite suppressants. These compounds are frequently amphetamine congeners such as diethylpropion (DEP), phentermine (PHEN), and bupropion (BUP), whose effects are mediated through serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopaminergic pathways. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell receives dopaminergic inputs and is involved in feeding and motor activity. However, little is known about how appetite suppressants modulate its activity. Therefore, we characterized behavioral and neuronal NAc shell responses to short-term treatments of DEP, PHEN, and BUP. These compounds caused a transient decrease in weight and food intake while increasing locomotion, stereotypy, and insomnia. They evoked a large inhibitory imbalance in NAc shell spiking activity that correlated with the onset of locomotion and stereotypy. Analysis of the local field potentials (LFPs) showed that all three drugs modulated beta, theta, and delta oscillations. These oscillations do not reflect an aversive-malaise brain state, as ascertained from taste aversion experiments, but tracked both the initial decrease in weight and food intake and the subsequent tolerance to these drugs. Importantly, the appetite suppressant-induced weight loss and locomotion were markedly reduced by intragastric (and intra-NAc shell) infusions of dopamine antagonists SCH-23390 (D1 receptor) or raclopride (D2 receptor). Furthermore, both antagonists attenuated appetite suppressant-induced LFP oscillations and partially restored the imbalance in NAc shell activity. These data reveal that appetite suppressant-induced behavioral and neuronal activity recorded in the NAc shell depend, to various extents, on dopaminergic activation and thus point to an important role for D1/D2-like receptors (in the NAc shell) in the mechanism of action for these anorexic compounds. PMID:25972577

Glutamate and Opioid Antagonists Modulate Dopamine Levels Evoked by Innately Attractive Male Chemosignals in the Nucleus Accumbens of Female Rats

PubMed Central

Sánchez-Catalán, María-José; Orrico, Alejandro; Hipólito, Lucía; Zornoza, Teodoro; Polache, Ana; Lanuza, Enrique; Martínez-García, Fernando; Granero, Luis; Agustín-Pavón, Carmen

2017-01-01

Sexual chemosignals detected by vomeronasal and olfactory systems mediate intersexual attraction in rodents, and act as a natural reinforcer to them. The mesolimbic pathway processes natural rewards, and the nucleus accumbens receives olfactory information via glutamatergic projections from the amygdala. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the mesolimbic pathway in the attraction toward sexual chemosignals. Our data show that female rats with no previous experience with males or their chemosignals display an innate preference for male-soiled bedding. Focal administration of the opioid antagonist β-funaltrexamine into the posterior ventral tegmental area does not affect preference for male chemosignals. Nevertheless, exposure to male-soiled bedding elicits an increase in dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens shell and core, measured by microdialysis. Infusion of the opioid antagonist naltrexone in the accumbens core does not significantly affect dopamine efflux during exposure to male chemosignals, although it enhances dopamine levels 40 min after withdrawal of the stimuli. By contrast, infusion of the glutamate antagonist kynurenic acid in the accumbens shell inhibits the release of dopamine and reduces the time that females spend investigating male-soiled bedding. These data are in agreement with previous reports in male rats showing that exposure to opposite-sex odors elicits dopamine release in the accumbens, and with data in female mice showing that the behavioral preference for male chemosignals is not affected by opioidergic antagonists. We hypothesize that glutamatergic projections from the amygdala into the accumbens might be important to modulate the neurochemical and behavioral responses elicited by sexual chemosignals in rats. PMID:28280461

A truncated spherical shell model for nuclear collective excitations: Applications to the odd-mass systems, neutron-proton systems, and other topics

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

Wu, Hua.

1989-01-01

One of the most elusive quantum system in nature is the nucleus, which is a strongly interacting many body system. In the hadronic (a la neutrons and protons) phase, the primary concern of this thesis, the nucleus' single particle excitations are intertwined with their various collective excitations. Although the underpinning of the nucleus is the spherical shell model, it is rendered powerless without a severe, but intelligent truncation of the infinite Hilbert space. The recently proposed Fermion Dynamical Symmetry Model (FDSM) is precisely such a truncation scheme and in which a symmetry-dictated truncation scheme is introduced in nuclear physics formore » the first time. In this thesis, extensions and explorations of the FDSM are made to specifically study the odd mass (where the most intricate mixing of the single particle and the collective excitations are observed) and the neutron-proton systems. In particular, the author finds that the previously successful phenomenological particle-rotor-model of the Copenhagen school can now be well understood microscopically via the FDSM. Furthermore, the well known Coriolis attenuation and variable moment of inertia effects are naturally understood from the model as well. A computer code FDUO was written by one of us to study, for the first time, the numerical implications of the FDSM. Several collective modes were found even when the system does not admit a group chain description. In addition, the code is most suitable to study the connection between level statistical behavior (a at Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble) and dynamical symmetry. It is found that there exist critical region of the interaction parameter space were the system behaves chaotically. This information is certainly crucial to understanding quantum chaotic behavior.« less

Glutamate and Opioid Antagonists Modulate Dopamine Levels Evoked by Innately Attractive Male Chemosignals in the Nucleus Accumbens of Female Rats.

PubMed

Sánchez-Catalán, María-José; Orrico, Alejandro; Hipólito, Lucía; Zornoza, Teodoro; Polache, Ana; Lanuza, Enrique; Martínez-García, Fernando; Granero, Luis; Agustín-Pavón, Carmen

2017-01-01

Sexual chemosignals detected by vomeronasal and olfactory systems mediate intersexual attraction in rodents, and act as a natural reinforcer to them. The mesolimbic pathway processes natural rewards, and the nucleus accumbens receives olfactory information via glutamatergic projections from the amygdala. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the mesolimbic pathway in the attraction toward sexual chemosignals. Our data show that female rats with no previous experience with males or their chemosignals display an innate preference for male-soiled bedding. Focal administration of the opioid antagonist β-funaltrexamine into the posterior ventral tegmental area does not affect preference for male chemosignals. Nevertheless, exposure to male-soiled bedding elicits an increase in dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens shell and core, measured by microdialysis. Infusion of the opioid antagonist naltrexone in the accumbens core does not significantly affect dopamine efflux during exposure to male chemosignals, although it enhances dopamine levels 40 min after withdrawal of the stimuli. By contrast, infusion of the glutamate antagonist kynurenic acid in the accumbens shell inhibits the release of dopamine and reduces the time that females spend investigating male-soiled bedding. These data are in agreement with previous reports in male rats showing that exposure to opposite-sex odors elicits dopamine release in the accumbens, and with data in female mice showing that the behavioral preference for male chemosignals is not affected by opioidergic antagonists. We hypothesize that glutamatergic projections from the amygdala into the accumbens might be important to modulate the neurochemical and behavioral responses elicited by sexual chemosignals in rats.

AgRP and MC3/4 receptor agonists both inhibit excitatory hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus neurons

PubMed Central

Fu, Li-Ying; van den Pol, Anthony N.

2009-01-01

Anorexigenic melanocortins decrease food intake by activating MC3/MC4 receptors (MC3/4R); the prevailing view is that the orexigenic neuropeptide AgRP exerts the opposite action by acting as an antagonist at MC3/MC4 receptors. 370 VMH glutamatergic neurons were studied using whole-cell recording in hypothalamic slices from a novel mouse expressing GFP under control of the vGluT2 promoter. Massive numbers of GFP-expressing VMH dendrites extended out of the core of the nucleus into the surrounding cell-poor shell. VMH dendrites received frequent appositions from AgRP immunoreactive axons in the shell of the nucleus, but not the core, suggesting that AgRP may influence target VMH neurons. Alpha-MSH, MTII, and selective MC3R or MC4R agonists were all inhibitory, reducing the spontaneous firing rate and hyperpolarizing vGluT2 neurons. The MC3/4R antagonist SHU9119 was excitatory. Unexpectedly, AgRP did not attenuate MTII actions on these neurons; instead these two compounds showed an additive inhibitory effect. In the absence of synaptic activity, no hyperpolarization or change in input resistance was evoked by either MTII or AgRP, suggesting indirect actions. Consistent with this view, MTII increased the frequency of spontaneous and miniature IPSCs. In contrast, the mechanism of AgRP inhibition was dependent on presynaptic inhibition of EPSCs mediated by Gi/Go proteins, and was attenuated by pertussis toxin and NF023, inconsistent with mediation by Gs proteins associated with MC receptors. Together, our data suggest that the mechanism of AgRP actions on these excitatory VMH cells appears to be independent of the actions of melanocortins on MC receptors. PMID:18495877

Spectroscopy of 70Kr and isospin symmetry in the T =1 f p g shell nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debenham, D. M.; Bentley, M. A.; Davies, P. J.; Haylett, T.; Jenkins, D. G.; Joshi, P.; Sinclair, L. F.; Wadsworth, R.; Ruotsalainen, P.; Henderson, J.; Kaneko, K.; Auranen, K.; Badran, H.; Grahn, T.; Greenlees, P.; HerzaáÅ, A.; Jakobsson, U.; Konki, J.; Julin, R.; Juutinen, S.; Leino, M.; Sorri, J.; Pakarinen, J.; Papadakis, P.; Peura, P.; Partanen, J.; Rahkila, P.; Sandzelius, M.; Sarén, J.; Scholey, C.; Stolze, S.; Uusitalo, J.; David, H. M.; de Angelis, G.; Korten, W.; Lotay, G.; Mallaburn, M.; Sahin, E.

2016-11-01

The recoil-β tagging technique has been used in conjunction with the 40Ca(32S,2 n ) reaction at a beam energy of 88 MeV to identify transitions associated with the decay of the 2+ and, tentatively, 4+ states in the nucleus 70Kr. These data are used, along with previously published data, to examine the triplet energy differences (TED) for the mass 70 isobars. The experimental TED values are compared with shell model calculations, performed with the JUN45 interaction in the f p g model space, that include a J =0 isospin nonconserving (INC) interaction with an isotensor strength of 100 keV. The agreement is found to be very good up to spin 4 and supports the expectation for analog states that all three nuclei have the same oblate shape at low-spin. The A =70 results are compared with the experimental and shell model predicted TED and mirror energy differences (MED) for the mass 66 and 74 systems. The comparisons clearly demonstrate the importance of the isotensor INC interaction in replicating the TED data in this region. Issues related to the observed MED values and their interpretation within the shell model are discussed.

Solvation of carbonaceous molecules by para-H2 and ortho-D2 clusters. II. Fullerenes.

PubMed

Calvo, F; Yurtsever, E

2016-08-28

The coating of various fullerenes by para-hydrogen and ortho-deuterium molecules has been computationally studied as a function of the solvent amount. Rotationally averaged interaction potentials for structureless hydrogen molecules are employed to model their interaction with neutral or charged carbonaceous dopants containing between 20 and 240 atoms, occasionally comparing different fullerenes having the same size but different shapes. The solvation energy and the size of the first solvation shell obtained from path-integral molecular dynamics simulations at 2 K show only minor influence on the dopant charge and on the possible deuteration of the solvent, although the shell size is largest for ortho-D2 coating cationic fullerenes. Nontrivial finite size effects have been found with the shell size varying non-monotonically close to its completion limit. For fullerenes embedded in large hydrogen clusters, the shell size and solvation energy both follow linear scaling with the fullerene size. The shell sizes obtained for C60 (+) and C70 (+) are close to 49 and 51, respectively, and agree with mass spectrometry experiments.

Solvation of carbonaceous molecules by para-H2 and ortho-D2 clusters. II. Fullerenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calvo, F.; Yurtsever, E.

2016-08-01

The coating of various fullerenes by para-hydrogen and ortho-deuterium molecules has been computationally studied as a function of the solvent amount. Rotationally averaged interaction potentials for structureless hydrogen molecules are employed to model their interaction with neutral or charged carbonaceous dopants containing between 20 and 240 atoms, occasionally comparing different fullerenes having the same size but different shapes. The solvation energy and the size of the first solvation shell obtained from path-integral molecular dynamics simulations at 2 K show only minor influence on the dopant charge and on the possible deuteration of the solvent, although the shell size is largest for ortho-D2 coating cationic fullerenes. Nontrivial finite size effects have been found with the shell size varying non-monotonically close to its completion limit. For fullerenes embedded in large hydrogen clusters, the shell size and solvation energy both follow linear scaling with the fullerene size. The shell sizes obtained for C 60+ and C 70+ are close to 49 and 51, respectively, and agree with mass spectrometry experiments.

Intra-nucleus accumbens shell injections of R(+)- and S(-)-baclofen bidirectionally alter binge-like ethanol, but not saccharin, intake in C57Bl/6J mice

PubMed Central

Kasten, Chelsea R.; Boehm, Stephen L.

2014-01-01

The GABAB agonist baclofen has been widely researched clinically and preclinically as a treatment of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). However, the efficacy of baclofen remains uncertain. The clinically used racemic compound can be separated into separate enantiomers. These enantiomers have produced different profiles in behavioral assays, with the S- compound often being ineffective compared to the R- compound, or the S- compound antagonizing the effects of the R- compound. We have previously demonstrated that the R(+)-baclofen enantiomer decreases binge-like ethanol intake in the Drinking-in-the-Dark (DID) paradigm, whereas the S(-)-baclofen enantiomer increases ethanol intake. One area implicated in drug abuse is the nucleus accumbens shell (NACsh).The current study sought to define the role of the NACsh in the enantioselective effects of baclofen on binge-like ethanol consumption by directly microinjecting each enantiomer into the structure. Following bilateral cannulation of the NACsh, C57Bl/6J mice were given 5 days of access to ethanol or saccharin for 2 hours, 3 hours into the dark cycle. On Day 5 mice were given an injection of aCSF, 0.02 R(+)-, 0.04R(+)-, 0.08 S(-)-, or 0.16 S(-)-baclofen (μg/side dissolved in 200nl of aCSF). It was found that the R(+)-baclofen dose-dependently decreased ethanol consumption, whereas the high S(-)-baclofen dose increased ethanol consumption, compared to the aCSF group. Saccharin consumption was not affected. These results further confirm that GABAB receptors and the NACsh shell are integral in mediating ethanol intake. They also demonstrate that baclofen displays bidirectional, enantioselective effects which are important when considering therapeutic uses of the drug. PMID:25026094

Intra-nucleus accumbens shell injections of R(+)- and S(-)-baclofen bidirectionally alter binge-like ethanol, but not saccharin, intake in C57Bl/6J mice.

PubMed

Kasten, Chelsea R; Boehm, Stephen L

2014-10-01

The GABAB agonist baclofen has been widely researched clinically and preclinically as a treatment of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). However, the efficacy of baclofen remains uncertain. The clinically used racemic compound can be separated into separate enantiomers. These enantiomers have produced different profiles in behavioral assays, with the S- compound often being ineffective compared to the R- compound, or the S- compound antagonizing the effects of the R- compound. We have previously demonstrated that the R(+)-baclofen enantiomer decreases binge-like ethanol intake in the Drinking-in-the-Dark (DID) paradigm, whereas the S(-)-baclofen enantiomer increases ethanol intake. One area implicated in drug abuse is the nucleus accumbens shell (NACsh).The current study sought to define the role of the NACsh in the enantioselective effects of baclofen on binge-like ethanol consumption by directly microinjecting each enantiomer into the structure. Following bilateral cannulation of the NACsh, C57Bl/6J mice were given 5 days of access to ethanol or saccharin for 2h, 3h into the dark cycle. On Day 5 mice were given an injection of aCSF, 0.02 R(+)-, 0.04R(+)-, 0.08 S(-)-, or 0.16 S(-)-baclofen (μg/side dissolved in 200nl of aCSF). It was found that the R(+)-baclofen dose-dependently decreased ethanol consumption, whereas the high S(-)-baclofen dose increased ethanol consumption, compared to the aCSF group. Saccharin consumption was not affected. These results further confirm that GABAB receptors and the NACsh shell are integral in mediating ethanol intake. They also demonstrate that baclofen displays bidirectional, enantioselective effects which are important when considering therapeutic uses of the drug. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Drug-primed reinstatement of cocaine seeking in mice: increased excitability of medium-sized spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens

PubMed Central

Ma, Yao-Ying; Henley, Sandy M.; Toll, Jeff; Jentsch, James D.; Evans, Christopher J.; Levine, Michael S.; Cepeda, Carlos

2013-01-01

To examine the mechanisms of drug relapse, we first established a model for cocaine IVSA (intravenous self-administration) in mice, and subsequently examined electrophysiological alterations of MSNs (medium-sized spiny neurons) in the NAc (nucleus accumbens) before and after acute application of cocaine in slices. Three groups were included: master mice trained by AL (active lever) pressings followed by IV (intravenous) cocaine delivery, yoked mice that received passive IV cocaine administration initiated by paired master mice, and saline controls. MSNs recorded in the NAc shell in master mice exhibited higher membrane input resistances but lower frequencies and smaller amplitudes of sEPSCs (spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents) compared with neurons recorded from saline control mice, whereas cells in the NAc core had higher sEPSCs frequencies and larger amplitudes. Furthermore, sEPSCs in MSNs of the shell compartment displayed longer decay times, suggesting that both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms were involved. After acute re-exposure to a low-dose of cocaine in vitro, an AP (action potential)-dependent, persistent increase in sEPSC frequency was observed in both NAc shell and core MSNs from master, but not yoked or saline control mice. Furthermore, re-exposure to cocaine induced membrane hyperpolarization, but concomitantly increased excitability of MSNs from master mice, as evidenced by increased membrane input resistance, decreased depolarizing current to generate APs, and a more negative Thr (threshold) for firing. These data demonstrate functional differences in NAc MSNs after chronic contingent versus non-contingent IV cocaine administration in mice, as well as synaptic adaptations of MSNs before and after acute re-exposure to cocaine. Reversing these functional alterations in NAc could represent a rational target for the treatment of some reward-related behaviors, including drug addiction. PMID:24000958

The uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist memantine reduces binge-like eating, food-seeking behavior, and compulsive eating: role of the nucleus accumbens shell.

PubMed

Smith, Karen L; Rao, Rahul R; Velázquez-Sánchez, Clara; Valenza, Marta; Giuliano, Chiara; Everitt, Barry J; Sabino, Valentina; Cottone, Pietro

2015-03-13

Binge-eating disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable consumption of palatable food within brief periods of time. The role of the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor system in hedonic feeding is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of the uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist memantine on palatable food-induced behavioral adaptations using a rat model, which mimics the characteristic symptomatology observed in binge-eating disorder. For this purpose, we allowed male Wistar rats to respond to obtain a highly palatable, sugary diet (Palatable group) or a regular chow diet (Chow control group), for 1 h a day, under a fixed-ratio 1 (FR1) schedule of reinforcement. Upon stabilization of food responding, we tested the effects of memantine on the Chow and Palatable food groups' intake. Then, we tested the effects of memantine on food-seeking behavior, under a second-order schedule of reinforcement. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of memantine on the intake of food when it was offered in an aversive, bright compartment of a light/dark conflict test. Finally, we evaluated the effects of memantine on FR1 responding for food, when microinfused into the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) shell or core. Memantine dose-dependently decreased binge-like eating and fully blocked food-seeking behavior and compulsive eating, selectively in the Palatable food group. The drug treatment did not affect performance of the control Chow food group. Finally, intra-NAcc shell, but not core, microinfusion of memantine decreased binge-like eating. Together, these findings substantiate a role of memantine as a potential pharmacological treatment for binge-eating disorder.

The Uncompetitive N-methyl-D-Aspartate Antagonist Memantine Reduces Binge-Like Eating, Food-Seeking Behavior, and Compulsive Eating: Role of the Nucleus Accumbens Shell

PubMed Central

Smith, Karen L; Rao, Rahul R; Velázquez-Sánchez, Clara; Valenza, Marta; Giuliano, Chiara; Everitt, Barry J; Sabino, Valentina; Cottone, Pietro

2015-01-01

Binge-eating disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable consumption of palatable food within brief periods of time. The role of the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor system in hedonic feeding is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of the uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist memantine on palatable food-induced behavioral adaptations using a rat model, which mimics the characteristic symptomatology observed in binge-eating disorder. For this purpose, we allowed male Wistar rats to respond to obtain a highly palatable, sugary diet (Palatable group) or a regular chow diet (Chow control group), for 1 h a day, under a fixed-ratio 1 (FR1) schedule of reinforcement. Upon stabilization of food responding, we tested the effects of memantine on the Chow and Palatable food groups' intake. Then, we tested the effects of memantine on food-seeking behavior, under a second-order schedule of reinforcement. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of memantine on the intake of food when it was offered in an aversive, bright compartment of a light/dark conflict test. Finally, we evaluated the effects of memantine on FR1 responding for food, when microinfused into the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) shell or core. Memantine dose-dependently decreased binge-like eating and fully blocked food-seeking behavior and compulsive eating, selectively in the Palatable food group. The drug treatment did not affect performance of the control Chow food group. Finally, intra-NAcc shell, but not core, microinfusion of memantine decreased binge-like eating. Together, these findings substantiate a role of memantine as a potential pharmacological treatment for binge-eating disorder. PMID:25381776

Synthesis of fullerene@gold core-shell nanostructures.

PubMed

Ren, Yupeng; Paira, Priyankar; Nayak, Tapas Ranjan; Ang, Wee Han; Pastorin, Giorgia

2011-07-21

A "direct encapsulation" method was developed for the synthesis of highly stable water-soluble fullerene@gold core-shell nanostructures, with gold nanoshells showing either closed or porous morphology. This gold nano-shell coating formed a "nano-oven", capable of decomposing encapsulated fullerene molecules rapidly when irradiated by laser. We envisaged this being a useful tool for chemical reactions as well as a novel scaffold for nano-material synthesis.

The Oscillations of Coronal Loops Including the Shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mikhalyaev, B. B.; Solov'ev, A. A.

2005-04-01

We investigate the MHD waves in a double magnetic flux tube embedded in a uniform external magnetic field. The tube consists of a dense hot cylindrical cord surrounded by a co-axial shell. The plasma and the magnetic field are taken to be uniform inside the cord and also inside the shell. Two slow and two fast magnetosonic modes can exist in the thin double tube. The first slow mode is trapped by the cord, the other is trapped by the shell. The oscillations of the second mode have opposite phases inside the cord and shell. The speeds of the slow modes propagating along the tube are close to the tube speeds inside the cord and the shell. The behavior of the fast modes depends on the magnitude of Alfvén speed inside the shell. If it is less than the Alfvén speed inside the cord and in the environment, then the fast mode is trapped by the shell and the other may be trapped under the certain conditions. In the opposite case when the Alfvén speed in the shell is greater than those inside the cord and in the environment, then the fast mode is radiated by the tube and the other may also be radiated under certain conditions. The oscillation of the cord and the shell with opposite phases is the distinctive feature of the process. The proposed model allows to explain the basic phenomena connected to the coronal oscillations: i) the damping of oscillations stipulated in the double tube model by the radiative loss, ii) the presence of two different modes of perturbations propagating along the loop with close speeds, iii) the opposite phases of oscillations of modulated radio emission, coming from the near coronal sources having sharply different densities.

A coupled-cluster study of photodetachment cross sections of closed-shell anions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cukras, Janusz; Decleva, Piero; Coriani, Sonia

2014-11-01

We investigate the performance of Stieltjes Imaging applied to Lanczos pseudo-spectra generated at the coupled cluster singles and doubles, coupled cluster singles and approximate iterative doubles and coupled cluster singles levels of theory in modeling the photodetachment cross sections of the closed shell anions H-, Li-, Na-, F-, Cl-, and OH-. The accurate description of double excitations is found to play a much more important role than in the case of photoionization of neutral species.

A coupled-cluster study of photodetachment cross sections of closed-shell anions.

PubMed

Cukras, Janusz; Decleva, Piero; Coriani, Sonia

2014-11-07

We investigate the performance of Stieltjes Imaging applied to Lanczos pseudo-spectra generated at the coupled cluster singles and doubles, coupled cluster singles and approximate iterative doubles and coupled cluster singles levels of theory in modeling the photodetachment cross sections of the closed shell anions H(-), Li(-), Na(-), F(-), Cl(-), and OH(-). The accurate description of double excitations is found to play a much more important role than in the case of photoionization of neutral species.

Closed solutions of singular equations of thermoelasticity of compositions of shells of revolution smoothly connected with each other

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belostochny, Grigory; Myltcina, Olga

2018-05-01

The paper deals with the main positions of strict continuum model of compositions of shells of revolution smoothly connected with each other. Solutions of singular equations of the membrane conduct thermoelasticity for different species of compositions obtained in a closed form. The ability to eliminate discontinuities of the first kind of one of the tangential force on the lines of the distortion has been proved by using the additional local force impact or temperature.

The effects of osmotic stress on the structure and function of the cell nucleus.

PubMed

Finan, John D; Guilak, Farshid

2010-02-15

Osmotic stress is a potent regulator of the normal function of cells that are exposed to osmotically active environments under physiologic or pathologic conditions. The ability of cells to alter gene expression and metabolic activity in response to changes in the osmotic environment provides an additional regulatory mechanism for a diverse array of tissues and organs in the human body. In addition to the activation of various osmotically- or volume-activated ion channels, osmotic stress may also act on the genome via a direct biophysical pathway. Changes in extracellular osmolality alter cell volume, and therefore, the concentration of intracellular macromolecules. In turn, intracellular macromolecule concentration is a key physical parameter affecting the spatial organization and pressurization of the nucleus. Hyper-osmotic stress shrinks the nucleus and causes it to assume a convoluted shape, whereas hypo-osmotic stress swells the nucleus to a size that is limited by stretch of the nuclear lamina and induces a smooth, round shape of the nucleus. These behaviors are consistent with a model of the nucleus as a charged core/shell structure pressurized by uneven partition of macromolecules between the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm. These osmotically-induced alterations in the internal structure and arrangement of chromatin, as well as potential changes in the nuclear membrane and pores are hypothesized to influence gene transcription and/or nucleocytoplasmic transport. A further understanding of the biophysical and biochemical mechanisms involved in these processes would have important ramifications for a range of fields including differentiation, migration, mechanotransduction, DNA repair, and tumorigenesis. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Open conformation of a substrate-binding cleft: sup 19 F NMR studies of cleft angle in the D-galactose chemosensory receptor

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

Luck, L.A.; Falke, J.J.

1991-07-02

The Escherichia coli D-galactose and D-glucose receptor is a two-domain structure with a sugar-binding site at the interface between domains. The structure of the closed cleft containing bound D-glucose has been determined crystalloghraphically, but the open cleft remains to be characterized. The present study illustrates a generalizable approach that is used to detect and analyze both the open- and closed-cleft conformations in solution. A {sup 19}F nucleus located inside the cleft is monitored by {sup 19}F NMR. When the cleft is occupied by D-glucose, the {sup 19}F nucleus is found to be inaccessible to the aqueous paramagnetic probe Gd{center dot}EDTA,more » verifying that the occupied cleft is closed in solution and inaccessible to bulk solvent. When the cleft is empty, the {sup 19}F nucleus becomes accessible to the paramagnet such that the distance of closest approach is r {le} 10 {angstrom}, indicating that the empty cleft opens at least transiently by an angle {theta} {ge} 18 {plus minus} 3{degrees}.« less

Unusual Crystallization Behavior Close to the Glass Transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desgranges, Caroline; Delhommelle, Jerome

2018-03-01

Using molecular simulations, we shed light on the mechanism underlying crystal nucleation in metal alloys and unravel the interplay between crystal nucleation and glass transition, as the conditions of crystallization lie close to this transition. While decreasing the temperature of crystallization usually results in a lower free energy barrier, we find an unexpected reversal of behavior for glass-forming alloys as the temperature of crystallization approaches the glass transition. For this purpose, we simulate the crystallization process in two glass-forming Copper alloys, Ag6 Cu4 , which has a positive heat of mixing, and CuZr, characterized by a large negative heat of mixing. Our results allow us to identify this unusual behavior as directly correlated with a nonmonotonic temperature dependence for the formation energy of connected icosahedral structures, which are incompatible with crystalline order and impede the development of the crystal nucleus, leading to an unexpectedly larger free energy barrier at low temperature. This, in turn, promotes the formation of a predominantly closed-packed critical nucleus, with fewer defects, thereby suggesting a new way to control the structure of the crystal nucleus, which is of key importance in catalysis.

ß-delayed γ-proton decay in ⁵⁶Zn: Analysis of the charged-particle spectrum

DOE PAGES

Orrigo, S. E.A.; Rubio, B.; Fujita, Y.; ...

2015-01-01

A study of the β decay of the proton-rich T z = –2 nucleus ⁵⁶Zn has been reported in a recent publication. A rare and exotic decay mode, β-de-layed γ-proton decay, has been observed there for the first time in the fp shell. Here, we expand on some of the details of the data analysis, focusing on the charged particle spectrum.

Nuclear shape evolution based on microscopic level densities

DOE PAGES

Ward, D. E.; Carlsson, B. G.; Døssing, T.; ...

2017-02-27

Here, by combining microscopically calculated level densities with the Metropolis walk method, we develop a consistent framework for treating the energy and angular-momentum dependence of the nuclear shape evolution in the fission process. For each nucleus under consideration, the level density is calculated microscopically for each of more than five million shapes with a recently developed combinatorial method. The method employs the same single-particle levels as those used for the extraction of the pairing and shell contributions to the macroscopic-microscopic deformation-energy surface. Containing no new parameters, the treatment is suitable for elucidating the energy dependence of the dynamics of warmmore » nuclei on pairing and shell effects. It is illustrated for the fission fragment mass distribution for several uranium and plutonium isotopes of particular interest.« less

Magnetic and fluorescent glycopolymer hybrid nanoparticles for intranuclear optical imaging.

PubMed

Pfaff, André; Schallon, Anja; Ruhland, Thomas M; Majewski, Alexander P; Schmalz, Holger; Freitag, Ruth; Müller, Axel H E

2011-10-10

The synthesis of galactose-displaying core-shell nanospheres exhibiting both fluorescent and magnetic properties by grafting a glycocopolymer consisting of 6-O-methacryloylgalactopyranose (MAGal) and 4-(pyrenyl)butyl methacrylate (PyMA) onto magnetic silica particles via thiol-ene chemistry is reported. Magnetization measurements indicated that neither the encapsulation of the iron oxide particles into silica nor the grafting of the glycocopolymer chains had a significant influence on the superparamagnetic properties. This not only simplifies the purification of the particles but may facilitate the use of the particles in applications such as hyperthermia or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, the hydrophilic glycopolymer shell provided solubility of the particles in aqueous medium and enabled the uptake of the particles into the cytoplasm and nucleus of lung cancer cells via carbohydrate-lectin recognition effects.

Chemical Topography of Efferent Projections from the Median Preoptic Nucleus to Pontine Monoaminergic Cell Groups in the Rat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zardetto-Smith, Andrea M.; Johnson, Alan Kim

1995-01-01

This study examined efferent output from the median preoptic nucleus (MNPO) to pontine noradrenergic and serotonergic cell groups using an anterograde tracing technique (Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin, PHA-L) combined with glucose oxidase immunocytochemistry to serotonin (5-HT) or to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). Injections of PHA-L into the ventral MNPO resulted in moderate axonal labeling within the region of the B7 and B8 serotonergic groups in the dorsal raphe. PHA-L labeled fibers and punctate processes were observed in close apposition to many of the 5-HT immunoreactive neurons in these regions. In contrast, sparse terminal labeling was found within the B5 group in the raphe pontis nucleus, and only trace fiber labeling observed in the B3 and B6 groups. Efferents from the MNPO also provided moderate innervation to the A6 and A7 noradrenergic groups. PHA-L labeled punctate processes were found most frequently in close apposition to DBH-immunoreactive neurons at mid- to caudal levels of the locus coeruleus. Some labeled axons were also present within the A7 and A5 groups. Additionally, a close apposition between labeled MNPO efferents and 5-HT fibers within the lateral parabrachial nucleus was observed. The results indicate the MNPO provides a topographic innervation of monoaminergic groups in the upper brainstem.

Chemical Topography of Efferent Projections from the Median Preoptic Nucleus to Pontine Monoaminergic Cell Groups in the Rat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zardetto-Smith, Andrea M.; Johnson, Alan Kim

1995-01-01

This study examined efferent output from the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) to pontine noradrenergic and serotonergic cell groups using an anterograde tracing technique (Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin, PHA-L) combined with glucose oxidase immunocytochemistry to scrotonin (5-HT) or to dopamine-(beta)-hydroxylase (DBH). Injections of PHA-L into the ventral MNPO resulted in moderate axonal labeling within the region of the B7 and B8 serotonergic groups in the dorsal raphe. PHA-L labeled fibers and punctate processes were observed in close apposition to many of the 5-HT immunoreactive neurons in these regions, In contrast, sparse terminal labeling was found within the B5 group in the raphe pontis nucleus, and only trace fiber labeling observed in the B3 and B6 groups. Efferents from the MNPO also provided moderate innervation to the A6 and A7 noradrenergic groups. PHA-L labeled punctate processes were found most frequently in close apposition to DBH-immunorcactive neurons at mid- to caudal levels of the locus coeruleus. Some labeled axons were also present within the A7 and A5 groups. Additionally, a close apposition between labeled MNPO efferents and 5-HT fibers within the lateral parabrachial nucleus was observed, The results indicate the MNPO provides a topographic innerva- tion of monoaminergic groups in the upper brainstem.

A new LiNbO{sub 3}-type polar oxide with closed-shell cations: ZnPbO{sub 3}

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

Yu, Runze, E-mail: yu.r.aa@m.titech.ac.jp, E-mail: mazuma@msl.titech.ac.jp; Hojo, Hajime; Azuma, Masaki, E-mail: yu.r.aa@m.titech.ac.jp, E-mail: mazuma@msl.titech.ac.jp

2015-09-07

A new lithium-niobate (LiNbO{sub 3})-type polar compound, namely, ZnPbO{sub 3} (a = 5.41605(7) Å and c = 14.33151(3) Å), with closed-shell ions only was synthesized under high pressure and high temperature (8 GPa and 1273 K). A point-charge-model calculation based on atomic positions refined by Rietveld analysis of synchrotron X-ray diffraction data gave an electrical ionic polarization of 77 μC/cm{sup 2} along the hexagonal c-axis. Detailed structural analysis indicated that the contribution of Pb{sup 4+} in ZnPbO{sub 3} to the polarization was almost twice as large as that of Sn{sup 4+} in ZnSnO{sub 3}. Transport measurement showed metallic behavior of ZnPbO{sub 3} from room temperature to lowmore » temperature despite the fact that both cations are closed-shell ions.« less

Switchable Opening and Closing of a Liquid Marble via Ultrasonic Levitation.

PubMed

Zang, Duyang; Li, Jun; Chen, Zhen; Zhai, Zhicong; Geng, Xingguo; Binks, Bernard P

2015-10-27

Liquid marbles have promising applications in the field of microreactors, where the opening and closing of their surfaces plays a central role. We have levitated liquid water marbles using an acoustic levitator and, thereby, achieved the manipulation of the particle shell in a controlled manner. Upon increasing the sound intensity, the stable levitated liquid marble changes from a quasi-sphere to a flattened ellipsoid. Interestingly, a cavity on the particle shell can be produced on the polar areas, which can be completely healed when decreasing the sound intensity, allowing it to serve as a microreactor. The integral of the acoustic radiation pressure on the part of the particle surface protruding into air is responsible for particle migration from the center of the liquid marble to the edge. Our results demonstrate that the opening and closing of the liquid marble particle shell can be conveniently achieved via acoustic levitation, opening up a new possibility to manipulate liquid marbles coated with non-ferromagnetic particles.

Agmatine attenuates nicotine induced conditioned place preference in mice through modulation of neuropeptide Y system.

PubMed

Kotagale, Nandkishor R; Walke, Sonali; Shelkar, Gajanan P; Kokare, Dadasaheb M; Umekar, Milind J; Taksande, Brijesh G

2014-04-01

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of agmatine on nicotine induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in male albino mice. Intra-peritoneal (ip) administration of nicotine (1mg/kg) significantly increased time spent in drug-paired compartment. Agmatine (20 and 40 mg/kg, ip) co-administered with nicotine during the 6 days conditioning sessions completely abolished the acquisition of nicotine-induced CPP in mice. Concomitant administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) (1 pg/mouse, icv) or [Leu(31), Pro(34)]-NPY (0.1 pg/mouse, icv), selective NPY Y1 receptor agonist potentiated the inhibitory effect of agmatine (10 mg/kg, ip) on nicotine CPP. Conversely, pretreatment with NPY Y1 receptor antagonist, BIBP3226 (0.01 ng/mouse, icv) blocked the effect of agmatine (20 mg/kg, ip) on nicotine induced CPP. In immunohistochemical study, nicotine decreased NPY-immunoreactivity in nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh), bed nucleus of stria terminalis, lateral part (BNSTl), arcuate nucleus (ARC) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Conversely, administration of agmatine prior to the nicotine significantly reversed the effect of nicotine on NPY-immunoreactivity in the above brain nuclei. This data indicate that agmatine attenuate nicotine induced CPP via modulation of NPYergic neurotransmission in brain. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of cabergoline and rotigotine on tacrine-induced tremulous jaw movements in rats.

PubMed

Koganemaru, Go; Abe, Hiroshi; Kuramashi, Aki; Ebihara, Kosuke; Matsuo, Hisae; Funahashi, Hideki; Yasuda, Kazuya; Ikeda, Tetsuya; Nishimori, Toshikazu; Ishida, Yasushi

2014-11-01

We examined the effects of two dopamine agonists, cabergoline and rotigotine, on tacrine-induced tremor and c-Fos expression in rats. Rats received intraperitoneal injection of cabergoline (0.5, 1.0, or 5.0mg/kg), rotigotine (1.0, 2.5, or 10.0mg/kg), or vehicle 30min before intraperitoneal injection of tacrine (5.0mg/kg). The number of tremulous jaw movements (TJMs) after tacrine administration was counted for 5min. Animals were sacrificed 2h later under deep anesthesia, and the brain sections were immunostained in order to evaluate the c-Fos expression. Induction of TJMs by tacrine was dose-dependently reduced by pretreatment with cabergoline and rotigotine. The number of c-Fos-positive cells was significantly enhanced in the medial striatum, nucleus accumbens core, and nucleus accumbens shell after tacrine administration, and the enhanced expression of c-Fos in these three regions was significantly attenuated by cabergoline, while rotigotine suppressed c-Fos expression in two regions except the nucleus accumbens core. These results suggest that tacrine-induced TJMs would be relieved by either cabergoline or rotigotine and that anticholinesterase-induced TJMs and the ameliorating effects of dopamine agonists would relate to neuronal activation in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KSC-02pd0822

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-05-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A thermal technician with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory closes out the blanket around CONTOUR'S Earth-Sun Sensor. The spacecraft will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround these rocky, icy building blocks of the solar system. Launch of CONTOUR aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket is scheduled for July 1 from Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Structural-Functional Organization of the Eukaryotic Cell Nucleus and Transcription Regulation: Introduction to This Special Issue of Biochemistry (Moscow).

PubMed

Razin, S V

2018-04-01

This issue of Biochemistry (Moscow) is devoted to the cell nucleus and mechanisms of transcription regulation. Over the years, biochemical processes in the cell nucleus have been studied in isolation, outside the context of their spatial organization. Now it is clear that segregation of functional processes within a compartmentalized cell nucleus is very important for the implementation of basic genetic processes. The functional compartmentalization of the cell nucleus is closely related to the spatial organization of the genome, which in turn plays a key role in the operation of epigenetic mechanisms. In this issue of Biochemistry (Moscow), we present a selection of review articles covering the functional architecture of the eukaryotic cell nucleus, the mechanisms of genome folding, the role of stochastic processes in establishing 3D architecture of the genome, and the impact of genome spatial organization on transcription regulation.

Localized surface plasmon mediated energy transfer in the vicinity of core-shell nanoparticle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shishodia, Manmohan Singh; Juneja, Soniya

2016-05-01

Multipole spectral expansion based theory of energy transfer interactions between a donor and an acceptor molecule in the vicinity of a core-shell (nanoshell or core@shell) based plasmonic nanostructure is developed. In view of the diverse applications and rich plasmonic features such as tuning capability of surface plasmon (SP) frequencies, greater sensitivity to the change of dielectric environment, controllable redirection of electromagnetic radiation, closed form expressions for Energy Transfer Rate Enhancement Factor (ETREF) near core-shell particle are reported. The dependence of ETREF on different parameters is established through fitting equations, perceived to be of key importance for developing appropriate designs. The theoretical approach developed in the present work is capable of treating higher order multipoles, which, in turn, are also shown to play a crucial role in the present context. Moreover, closed form expressions derived in the present work can directly be used as formula, e.g., for designing SP based biosensors and estimating energy exchange between proteins and excitonic interactions in quantum dots.

Shape coexistence from lifetime and branching-ratio measurements in 68,70Ni

DOE PAGES

Crider, B. P.; Prokop, C. J.; Liddick, S. N.; ...

2016-10-15

Shape coexistence near closed-shell nuclei, whereby states associated with deformed shapes appear at relatively low excitation energy alongside spherical ones, is indicative of the rapid change in structure that can occur with the addition or removal of a few protons or neutrons. Near 68Ni (Z=28, N=40), the identification of shape coexistence hinges on hitherto undetermined transition rates to and from low-energy 0 + states. In 68,70Ni, new lifetimes and branching ratios have been measured. These data enable quantitative descriptions of the 0 + states through the deduced transition rates and serve as sensitive probes for characterizing their nuclear wave functions.more » The results are compared to, and consistent with, large-scale shell-model calculations which predict shape coexistence. With the firm identification of this phenomenon near 68Ni, shape coexistence is now observed in all currently accessible regions of the nuclear chart with closed proton shells and mid-shell neutrons.« less

Yes, it turns: experimental evidence of pearl rotation during its formation.

PubMed

Gueguen, Yannick; Czorlich, Yann; Mastail, Max; Le Tohic, Bruno; Defay, Didier; Lyonnard, Pierre; Marigliano, Damien; Gauthier, Jean-Pierre; Bari, Hubert; Lo, Cedrik; Chabrier, Sébastien; Le Moullac, Gilles

2015-07-01

Cultured pearls are human creations formed by inserting a nucleus and a small piece of mantle tissue into a living shelled mollusc, usually a pearl oyster. Although many pearl observations intuitively suggest a possible rotation of the nucleated pearl inside the oyster, no experimental demonstration of such a movement has ever been done. This can be explained by the difficulty of observation of such a phenomenon in the tissues of a living animal. To investigate this question of pearl rotation, a magnetometer system was specifically engineered to register magnetic field variations with magnetic sensors from movements of a magnetic nucleus inserted in the pearl oyster. We demonstrated that a continuous movement of the nucleus inside the oyster starts after a minimum of 40 days post-grafting and continues until the pearl harvest. We measured a mean angular speed of 1.27° min(-1) calculated for four different oysters. Rotation variability was observed among oysters and may be correlated to pearl shape and defects. Nature's ability to generate so amazingly complex structures like a pearl has delivered one of its secrets.

Yes, it turns: experimental evidence of pearl rotation during its formation

PubMed Central

Gueguen, Yannick; Czorlich, Yann; Mastail, Max; Le Tohic, Bruno; Defay, Didier; Lyonnard, Pierre; Marigliano, Damien; Gauthier, Jean-Pierre; Bari, Hubert; Lo, Cedrik; Chabrier, Sébastien; Le Moullac, Gilles

2015-01-01

Cultured pearls are human creations formed by inserting a nucleus and a small piece of mantle tissue into a living shelled mollusc, usually a pearl oyster. Although many pearl observations intuitively suggest a possible rotation of the nucleated pearl inside the oyster, no experimental demonstration of such a movement has ever been done. This can be explained by the difficulty of observation of such a phenomenon in the tissues of a living animal. To investigate this question of pearl rotation, a magnetometer system was specifically engineered to register magnetic field variations with magnetic sensors from movements of a magnetic nucleus inserted in the pearl oyster. We demonstrated that a continuous movement of the nucleus inside the oyster starts after a minimum of 40 days post-grafting and continues until the pearl harvest. We measured a mean angular speed of 1.27° min−1 calculated for four different oysters. Rotation variability was observed among oysters and may be correlated to pearl shape and defects. Nature's ability to generate so amazingly complex structures like a pearl has delivered one of its secrets. PMID:26587271

Optimization of exposure factors for X-ray radiography non-destructive testing of pearl oyster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Susilo; Yulianti, I.; Addawiyah, A.; Setiawan, R.

2018-03-01

One of the processes in pearl oyster cultivation is detecting the pearl nucleus to gain information whether the pearl nucleus is still attached in the shell or vomited. The common tool used to detect pearl nucleus is an X-ray machine. However, an X-ray machine has a drawback that is the energy used is higher than that used by digital radiography. The high energy make the resulted image is difficult to be analysed. One of the advantages of digital radiography is the energy used can be adjusted so that the resulted image can be analysed easily. To obtain a high quality of pearl image using digital radiography, the exposure factors should be optimized. In this work, optimization was done by varying the voltage, current, and exposure time. Then, the radiography images were analysed using Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR). From the analysis, it can be determined that the optimum exposure factors are 60 kV of voltage, 16 mA of current, and 0.125 s of exposure time which result in CNR of 5.71.

Neutrino-nucleus reactions based on recent structure studies

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

Suzuki, Toshio; National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588

2015-05-15

Neutrino-nucleus reactions are studied with the use of new shell model Hamiltonians, which have proper tensor components in the interactions and prove to be successful in the description of Gamow-Teller (GT) strengths in nuclei. The new Hamiltonians are applied to obtain new neutrino-nucleus reaction cross sections in {sup 12}C, {sup 13}C, {sup 56}Fe and {sup 56}Ni induced by solar and supernova neutrinos. The element synthesis by neutrino processes in supernova explosions is discussed with the new cross sections. The enhancement of the production yields of {sup 7}Li, {sup 11}B and {sup 55}Mn is obtained while fragmented GT strength in {supmore » 56}Ni with two-peak structure is found to result in smaller e-capture rates at stellar environments. The monopole-based universal interaction with tensor force of π+ρ meson exchanges is used to evaluate GT strength in {sup 40}Ar and ν-induced reactions on {sup 40}Ar. It is found to reproduce well the experimental GT strength in {sup 40}Ar.« less

Rosetta's comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko sheds its dusty mantle to reveal its icy nature.

PubMed

Fornasier, S; Mottola, S; Keller, H U; Barucci, M A; Davidsson, B; Feller, C; Deshapriya, J D P; Sierks, H; Barbieri, C; Lamy, P L; Rodrigo, R; Koschny, D; Rickman, H; A'Hearn, M; Agarwal, J; Bertaux, J-L; Bertini, I; Besse, S; Cremonese, G; Da Deppo, V; Debei, S; De Cecco, M; Deller, J; El-Maarry, M R; Fulle, M; Groussin, O; Gutierrez, P J; Güttler, C; Hofmann, M; Hviid, S F; Ip, W-H; Jorda, L; Knollenberg, J; Kovacs, G; Kramm, R; Kührt, E; Küppers, M; Lara, M L; Lazzarin, M; Moreno, J J Lopez; Marzari, F; Massironi, M; Naletto, G; Oklay, N; Pajola, M; Pommerol, A; Preusker, F; Scholten, F; Shi, X; Thomas, N; Toth, I; Tubiana, C; Vincent, J-B

2016-12-23

The Rosetta spacecraft has investigated comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from large heliocentric distances to its perihelion passage and beyond. We trace the seasonal and diurnal evolution of the colors of the 67P nucleus, finding changes driven by sublimation and recondensation of water ice. The whole nucleus became relatively bluer near perihelion, as increasing activity removed the surface dust, implying that water ice is widespread underneath the surface. We identified large (1500 square meters) ice-rich patches appearing and then vanishing in about 10 days, indicating small-scale heterogeneities on the nucleus. Thin frosts sublimating in a few minutes are observed close to receding shadows, and rapid variations in color are seen on extended areas close to the terminator. These cyclic processes are widespread and lead to continuously, slightly varying surface properties. Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Isomer spectroscopy of neutron-rich 168Tb 103

DOE PAGES

Gurgi, L. A.; Regan, P. H.; Söderström, P. -A.; ...

2016-12-29

In-flight fission of a 345 MeV per nucleon 238U primary beam on a 2 mm thick 9Be target has been used to produce and study the decays of a range of neutron-rich nuclei centred around the doubly mid-shell nucleus 170Dy at the RIBF Facility, RIKEN, Japan. The produced secondary fragments of interest were identified event-by-event using the BigRIPS separator. The fragments were implanted into the WAS3ABI position sensitive silicon active stopper which allowed pixelated correlations between implants and their subsequent β-decay. Discrete γ-ray transitions emitted following decays from either metastable states or excited states populated following beta decay were identifiedmore » using the 84 coaxial high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors of the EURICA spectrometer, which was complemented by 18 additional cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr 3) fast-timing scintillation detectors from the FATIMA collaboration. This paper presents the internal decay of a metastable isomeric excited state in the odd-odd nucleus 168Tb, which corresponds to a single proton-neutron hole configuration in the valence maximum nucleus 170Dy. These data represent the first information on excited states in this nucleus, which is the most neutron-rich odd-odd isotope of terbium (Z = 65) studied to date. Here, Nilsson configurations associated with an axially symmetric, prolate-deformed nucleus are proposed for the 168Tb ground state the observed isomeric state by comparison with Blocked BCS-Nilsson calculations.« less

Isomer spectroscopy of neutron-rich 168Tb103

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurgi, L. A.; Regan, P. H.; Söderström, P.-A.; Watanabe, H.; Walker, P. M.; Podolyák, Zs.; Nishimura, S.; Berry, T. A.; Doornenbal, P.; Lorusso, G.; Isobe, T.; Baba, H.; Xu, Z. Y.; Sakurai, H.; Sumikama, T.; Catford, W. N.; Bruce, A. M.; Browne, F.; Lane, G. J.; Kondev, F. G.; Odahara, A.; Wu, J.; Liu, H. L.; Xu, F. R.; Korkulu, Z.; Lee, P.; Liu, J. J.; Phong, V. H.; Yag, A.; Zhang, G. X.; Alharbi, T.; Carroll, R. J.; Chae, K. Y.; Dombradi, Zs.; Estrade, A.; Fukuda, N.; Griffin, C.; Ideguchi, E.; Inabe, N.; Kanaoka, H.; Kojouharov, I.; Kubo, T.; Kubono, S.; Kurz, N.; Kuti, I.; Lalkovski, S.; Lee, E. J.; Lee, C. S.; Lotay, G.; Moon, C.-B.; Nishizuka, I.; Nita, C. R.; Patel, Z.; Roberts, O. J.; Schaffner, H.; Shand, C. M.; Suzuki, H.; Takeda, H.; Terashima, S.; Vajta, Zs.; Yoshida, S.; Valiente-Dòbon, J. J.

2017-11-01

In-flight fission of a 345 MeV per nucleon 238U primary beam on a 2 mm thick 9Be target has been used to produce and study the decays of a range of neutron-rich nuclei centred around the doubly mid-shell nucleus 170Dy at the RIBF Facility, RIKEN, Japan. The produced secondary fragments of interest were identified event-by-event using the BigRIPS separator. The fragments were implanted into the WAS3ABI position sensitive silicon active stopper which allowed pixelated correlations between implants and their subsequent β-decay. Discrete γ-ray transitions emitted following decays from either metastable states or excited states populated following beta decay were identified using the 84 coaxial high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors of the EURICA spectrometer, which was complemented by 18 additional cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3) fast-timing scintillation detectors from the FATIMA collaboration. This paper presents the internal decay of a metastable isomeric excited state in the odd-odd nucleus 168Tb, which corresponds to a single proton-neutron hole configuration in the valence maximum nucleus 170Dy. These data represent the first information on excited states in this nucleus, which is the most neutron-rich odd-odd isotope of terbium (Z=65) studied to date. Nilsson configurations associated with an axially symmetric, prolate-deformed nucleus are proposed for the 168Tb ground state the observed isomeric state by comparison with Blocked BCS-Nilsson calculations.

Efficient Subcellular Targeting to the Cell Nucleus of Quantum Dots Densely Decorated with a Nuclear Localization Sequence Peptide.

PubMed

Maity, Amit Ranjan; Stepensky, David

2016-01-27

Organelle-targeted drug delivery can enhance the efficiency of the intracellularly acting drugs and reduce their toxicity. We generated core-shell type CdSe-ZnS quantum dots (QDs) densely decorated with NLS peptidic targeting residues using a 3-stage decoration approach and investigated their endocytosis and nuclear targeting efficiencies. The diameter of the generated QDs increased following the individual decoration stages (16.3, 18.9, and 21.9 nm), the ζ-potential became less negative (-33.2, -17.5, and -11.9 mV), and characteristic changes appeared in the FTIR spectra following decoration with the linker and NLS peptides. Quantitative analysis of the last decoration stage revealed that 37.9% and 33.2% of the alkyne-modified NLS groups that were added to the reaction mix became covalently attached or adsorbed to the QDs surface, respectively. These numbers correspond to 63.6 and 55.7 peptides conjugated or adsorbed to a single QD (the surface density of 42 and 37 conjugated and adsorbed peptides per 1000 nm(2) of the QDs surface), which is higher than in the majority of previous studies that reported decoration efficiencies of formulations intended for nuclear-targeted drug delivery. QDs decorated with NLS peptides undergo more efficient endocytosis, as compared to other investigated QDs formulations, and accumulated to a higher extent in the cell nucleus or in close vicinity to it (11.9%, 14.6%, and 56.1% of the QDs endocytosed by an average cell for the QD-COOH, QD-azide, and QD-NLS formulations, respectively). We conclude that dense decoration of QDs with NLS residues increased their endocytosis and led to their nuclear targeting (preferential accumulation in the cells nuclei or in close vicinity to them). The experimental system and research tools that were used in this study allow quantitative investigation of the mechanisms that govern the QDs nuclear targeting and their dependence on the formulation properties. These findings will contribute to the development of subcellularly targeted DDSs that will deliver specific drugs to the nuclei of the target cells and will enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity of these drugs.

NMDA and dopamine D1 receptors within NAc-shell regulate IEG proteins expression in reward circuit during cocaine memory reconsolidation.

PubMed

Li, Y; Ge, S; Li, N; Chen, L; Zhang, S; Wang, J; Wu, H; Wang, X; Wang, X

2016-02-19

Reactivation of consolidated memory initiates a memory reconsolidation process, during which the reactivated memory is susceptible to strengthening, weakening or updating. Therefore, effective interference with the memory reconsolidation process is expected to be an important treatment for drug addiction. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been well recognized as a pathway component that can prevent drug relapse, although the mechanism underlying this function is poorly understood. We aimed to clarify the regulatory role of the NAc in the cocaine memory reconsolidation process, by examining the effect of applying different pharmacological interventions to the NAc on Zif 268 and Fos B expression in the entire reward circuit after cocaine memory reactivation. Through the cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) model, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining for Zif 268 and Fos B were used to explore the functional activated brain nuclei after cocaine memory reactivation. Our results showed that the expression of Zif 268 and Fos B was commonly increased in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the infralimbic cortex (IL), the NAc-core, the NAc-shell, the hippocampus (CA1, CA2, and CA3 subregions), the amygdala, the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and the supramammillary nucleus (SuM) following memory reconsolidation, and Zif 268/Fos B co-expression was commonly observed (for Zif 268: 51-68%; for Fos B: 52-66%). Further, bilateral NAc-shell infusion of MK 801 and SCH 23390, but not raclopride or propranolol, prior to addictive memory reconsolidation, decreased Zif 268 and Fos B expression in the entire reward circuit, except for the amygdala, and effectively disturbed subsequent CPP-related behavior. In summary, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and dopamine D1 receptors, but not dopamine D2 or β adrenergic receptors, within the NAc-shell, may regulate Zif 268 and Fos B expression in most brain nuclei of the reward circuit after cocaine memory reactivation. These findings indicated that the NAc played a key role in regulating addictive memory reconsolidation by influencing the function of the entire addictive memory network. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Strain distribution of confined Ge/GeO2 core/shell nanoparticles engineered by growth environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Wenyan; Yuan, Cailei; Luo, Xingfang; Yu, Ting; Wang, Gongping

2016-02-01

The strain distributions of Ge/GeO2 core/shell nanoparticles confined in different host matrix grown by surface oxidation are investigated. The simulated results by finite element method demonstrated that the strains of the Ge core and the GeO2 shell strongly depend on the growth environments of the nanoparticles. Moreover, it can be found that there is a transformation of the strain on Ge core from tensile to compressive strain during the growth of Ge/GeO2 core/shell nanoparticles. And, the transformation of the strain is closely related with the Young's modulus of surrounding materials of Ge/GeO2 core/shell nanoparticles.

Uncertainties in modeling low-energy neutrino-induced reactions on iron-group nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paar, N.; Suzuki, T.; Honma, M.; Marketin, T.; Vretenar, D.

2011-10-01

Charged-current neutrino-nucleus cross sections for 54,56Fe and 58,60Ni are calculated and compared using frameworks based on relativistic and Skyrme energy-density functionals and on the shell model. The current theoretical uncertainties in modeling neutrino-nucleus cross sections are assessed in relation to the predicted Gamow-Teller transition strength and available data, to multipole decomposition of the cross sections, and to cross sections averaged over the Michel flux and Fermi-Dirac distribution. By employing different microscopic approaches and models, the decay-at-rest (DAR) neutrino-56Fe cross section and its theoretical uncertainty are estimated to be <σ>th=(258±57)×10-42cm2, in very good agreement with the experimental value <σ>exp=(256±108±43)×10-42cm2.

Distribution of Neurotensin and Somatostatin-28 (1-12) in the Minipig Brainstem.

PubMed

Sánchez, M L; Vecino, E; Coveñas, R

2016-08-01

Using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique, an in depth study has been carried out for the first time on the distribution of fibres and cell bodies containing neurotensin and somatostatin-28 (1-12) (SOM) in the minipig brainstem. The animals used were not treated with colchicine. The distribution of neurotensin- and SOM-immunoreactive fibres was seen to be quite similar and was moderate in the minipig brainstem: a close anatomical relationship between both neuropeptides was observed. The distribution of cell bodies containing neurotensin or SOM was quite different and restricted. Cell bodies containing neurotensin were found in four brainstem nuclei: nucleus centralis raphae, nucleus dorsalis raphae, in the pars centralis of the nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini and in the nucleus ventralis raphae. Cell bodies containing SOM were found in six nuclei/regions of the brainstem: nucleus ambiguus, nucleus dorsalis motorius nervi vagus, formatio reticularis, nucleus parabrachialis medialis, nucleus reticularis lateralis and nucleus ventralis raphae. According to the observed anatomical distribution of the immunoreactive structures containing neurotensin or SOM, the peptides could be involved in sleep-waking, nociceptive, gustatory, motor, respiratory and autonomic mechanisms. © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Vertical Electron Detachment Energies for Octahedral Closed-Shell Multiply Charged Anions

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-04-22

however, at low theoretical levels, motivating us to extend the investigations to: a) higher levels of theory, b) analogous closed-shell singly- and...hundredths of an eV. This further supports our choice of SBKJ+diff as the basis set for the production runs. The SCF relaxation energies for F- and Cl...intensities for the product molecules ML 5(’)" (D3h) and ML 4 (n-2 )" 15 (Td) were determined at the SCF/SBKJ level and are reported in Table V

Mass spectrometric identification of Au68(SR)34 molecular gold nanoclusters with 34-electron shell closing.

PubMed

Dass, Amala

2009-08-26

The molecular formula Au(68)(SCH(2)CH(2)Ph)(34) has been assigned to the 14 kDa nanocluster using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The 34-electron shell closing in a macroscopically obtained thiolated gold nanocluster is demonstrated. The Au(68) nanocluster is predicted to have a 49 atom Marks decahedral core with 19 inner core atoms and 30 outer atoms chelating with the staple motifs. The nanoclusters' predicted formulation is [Au](19+30) [Au(SR)(2)](11) [Au(2)(SR)(3)](4).

Effects of muscimol, amphetamine, and DAMGO injected into the nucleus accumbens shell on food-reinforced lever pressing by undeprived rats.

PubMed

Stratford, Thomas R; Wirtshafter, David

2012-05-01

Previous studies have shown that large increases in food intake in nondeprived animals can be induced by injections of both the GABA(A) agonist muscimol and the μ-opioid agonist DAMGO into the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh), while injections of the catecholamine agonist amphetamine have little effect. In the current study we examined whether injections of these drugs are able to increase food-reinforced lever pressing in nondeprived rats. Twelve subjects were trained to lever press on a continuous reinforcement schedule while food deprived and were then tested after being placed back on ad libitum feeding. Under these conditions, responding was markedly increased by injections of either muscimol or DAMGO, although the onset of the effects of the latter drug was delayed by 30-40 min. In contrast, amphetamine injections failed to increase reinforced lever pressing, although they did enhance responding on a non-reinforced lever, presumably reflecting alterations in behavioral activation. These results demonstrate that stimulation of GABA(A) and μ-opioid receptors within the AcbSh is able to promote not only food intake, but also food-directed operant behavior. In contrast, stimulation of AcbSh dopamine receptors may enhance behavioral arousal, but does not appear to specifically potentiate behaviors directed toward food procurement. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preventive role of social interaction for cocaine conditioned place preference: correlation with FosB/DeltaFosB and pCREB expression in rat mesocorticolimbic areas

PubMed Central

El Rawas, Rana; Klement, Sabine; Salti, Ahmad; Fritz, Michael; Dechant, Georg; Saria, Alois; Zernig, Gerald

2012-01-01

The worsening of drug abuse by drug-associated social interaction is a well-studied phenomenon. In contrast, the molecular mechanisms of the beneficial effect of social interaction, if offered as a mutually exclusive choice to drugs of abuse, are under-investigated. In a rat place preference conditioning (CPP) paradigm, four 15 min episodes of social interaction with a gender- and weight-matched male early-adult conspecific inhibited cocaine-induced reinstatement of cocaine CPP, a model of relapse. These protective effects of social interaction were paralleled by a reduced activation, as assessed by Zif268 expression, in brain areas known to play pivotal roles in drug-seeking behavior. Here we show that social interaction during extinction of cocaine CPP also reduced cocaine-CPP-stimulated FosB expression in the nucleus accumbens shell and core. In addition, social interaction during cocaine CPP extinction increased pCREB (cAMP response element binding protein) expression in the nucleus accumbens shell and the cingulate cortex area 1 (Cg1). Our results show that FosB and pCREB may be implicated in the protective effect of social interaction against cocaine-induced reinstatement of CPP. Thus, social interaction, if offered in a context that is clearly distinct from the previously drug-associated one, may profoundly inhibit relapse to cocaine addiction. PMID:22403532

Structure of the spatial periphery of the {sup 11}Li and {sup 11}Be isobars

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

Galanina, L. I., E-mail: galan-lidiya@mail.ru; Zelenskaya, N. S.

2016-07-15

On the basis of the shell model with an extended basis, the structure of {sup 9}Li-{sup 9}Be to {sup 11}Li-{sup 11}Be nuclei is examined with allowance for the competition of {sup jj} coupling and Majorana exchange forces via considering the sequential addition of neutrons, and the respective wave functions are determined. A formalism for calculating the spectroscopic factor for a dineutron and for individual neutrons in nuclei whose wave functions incorporate the mixing of shell configurations is developed. The reactions {sup 9}Li(t, p){sup 11}Li and {sup 9}Be(t, p){sup 11}Be treated with allowance for the mechanisms of dineutron stripping and amore » sequential transfer of two neutrons are considered as an indicator of the proposed structure of lithium and berylliumisotopes. The parameters of the optical potentials, the wave functions for the bound states of transferred particles, and the interaction potentials corresponding to them are determined from a comparison of the theoretical angular distribution of protons from the reaction {sup 9}Be(t, p){sup 11}Be with its experimental counterpart. It is shown that a dineutron periphery of size about 6.4 fm is present in the {sup 11}Li nucleus and that a single-neutron periphery of size about 8 fm is present in the {sup 11}Be nucleus.« less

KSC-02pd0890

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-05

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, one half of the fairing of the Delta II rocket for encapsulation of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft is lifted up the tower. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. Launch of CONTOUR is scheduled for July 1, 2002

AGN radiative feedback in dusty quasar populations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishibashi, W.; Banerji, M.; Fabian, A. C.

2017-08-01

New populations of hyper-luminous, dust-obscured quasars have been recently discovered around the peak epoch of galaxy formation (z ˜ 2-3), in addition to similar sources found at lower redshifts. Such dusty quasars are often interpreted as sources 'in transition', from dust-enshrouded starbursts to unobscured luminous quasars, along the evolutionary sequence. Here we consider the role of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) radiative feedback, driven by radiation pressure on dust, in high-luminosity, dust-obscured sources. We analyse how the radiation pressure-driven dusty shell models, with different shell mass configurations, may be applied to the different populations of dusty quasars reported in recent observations. We find that expanding shells, sweeping up matter from the surrounding environment, may account for prolonged obscuration in dusty quasars, e.g. for a central luminosity of L ˜ 1047 erg s-1, a typical obscured phase (with extinction in the range AV ˜ 1-10 mag) may last a few ˜106 yr. On the other hand, fixed-mass shells, coupled with high dust-to-gas ratios, may explain the extreme outflows recently discovered in red quasars at high redshifts. We discuss how the interaction between AGN radiative feedback and the ambient medium at different temporal stages in the evolutionary sequence may contribute to shape the observational appearance of dusty quasar populations.

Transition Quadrupole Collectivity of Ar and Cl Isotopes Near N = 28

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winkler, R.; Gade, A.; Brown, B. A.; Glasmacher, T.; Baugher, T. R.; Bazin, D.; Grinyer, G. F.; McDaniel, S.; Meharchand, R.; Ratkiewicz, A.; Stroberg, R.; Walsh, K.; Weisshaar, D.; Riley, L. A.

2010-11-01

Measurements of the reduced quadrupole transition strengths, B(E2; 0^+ -> 2^+) of even-even nuclei guide our understanding of the onset collectivity with the addition of valence nucleons beyond the known shell structure of the atomic nucleus. The study of the quadrupole collectivity of neutron-rich ^47,48Ar and ^45,46Cl via relativistic Coulomb excitation was performed using a cocktail of exotic beams produced by the coupled cyclotron facility at NSCL. Particle tracking and identification was achieved on an event-by-event basis using the S800 high-resolution spectrograph. Gamma rays emitted at the reaction target position in coincidence with the detection of scattered particles were observed with the segmented high-purity Germanium array SeGA, a vital tool for the Doppler reconstruction of each observed event. Results from the present work provide insight into the persistence of the N = 28 shell closure and will be discussed in the framework of the shell model utilizing modern effective interactions in the sdpf valence space. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants No. PHY-0606007 and PHY-0758099.

Desipramine and citalopram attenuate pretest swim-induced increases in prodynorphin immunoreactivity in the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the lateral division of the central nucleus of the amygdala in the forced swimming test.

PubMed

Chung, Sung; Kim, Hee Jeong; Kim, Hyun Ju; Choi, Sun Hye; Cho, Jin Hee; Cho, Yun Ha; Kim, Dong-Hoon; Shin, Kyung Ho

2014-10-01

Dynorphin in the nucleus accumbens shell plays an important role in antidepressant-like effect in the forced swimming test (FST), but it is unclear whether desipramine and citalopram treatments alter prodynorphin levels in other brain areas. To explore this possibility, we injected mice with desipramine and citalopram 0.5, 19, and 23 h after a 15-min pretest swim and observed changes in prodynorphin expression before the test swim, which was conducted 24 h after the pretest swim. The pretest swim increased prodynorphin immunoreactivity in the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST) and lateral division of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeL). This increase in prodynorphin immunoreactivity in the dBNST and CeL was blocked by desipramine and citalopram treatments. Similar changes in prodynorphin mRNA levels were observed in the dBNST and CeL, but these changes did not reach significance. To understand the underlying mechanism, we assessed changes in phosphorylated CREB at Ser(133) (pCREB) immunoreactivity in the dBNST and central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Treatment with citalopram but not desipramine after the pretest swim significantly increased pCREB immunoreactivity only in the dBNST. These results suggest that regulation of prodynorphin in the dBNST and CeL before the test swim may be involved in the antidepressant-like effect of desipramine and citalopram in the FST and suggest that changes in pCREB immunoreactivity in these areas may not play an important role in the regulation of prodynorphin in the dBNST and CeA. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Statistical mechanics of shell models for two-dimensional turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aurell, E.; Boffetta, G.; Crisanti, A.; Frick, P.; Paladin, G.; Vulpiani, A.

1994-12-01

We study shell models that conserve the analogs of energy and enstrophy and hence are designed to mimic fluid turbulence in two-dimensions (2D). The main result is that the observed state is well described as a formal statistical equilibrium, closely analogous to the approach to two-dimensional ideal hydrodynamics of Onsager [Nuovo Cimento Suppl. 6, 279 (1949)], Hopf [J. Rat. Mech. Anal. 1, 87 (1952)], and Lee [Q. Appl. Math. 10, 69 (1952)]. In the presence of forcing and dissipation we observe a forward flux of enstrophy and a backward flux of energy. These fluxes can be understood as mean diffusive drifts from a source to two sinks in a system which is close to local equilibrium with Lagrange multipliers (``shell temperatures'') changing slowly with scale. This is clear evidence that the simplest shell models are not adequate to reproduce the main features of two-dimensional turbulence. The dimensional predictions on the power spectra from a supposed forward cascade of enstrophy and from one branch of the formal statistical equilibrium coincide in these shell models in contrast to the corresponding predictions for the Navier-Stokes and Euler equations in 2D. This coincidence has previously led to the mistaken conclusion that shell models exhibit a forward cascade of enstrophy. We also study the dynamical properties of the models and the growth of perturbations.

UNCOVERING THE NUCLEUS CANDIDATE FOR NGC 253

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

Günthardt, G. I.; Camperi, J. A.; Agüero, M. P.

2015-11-15

NGC 253 is the nearest spiral galaxy with a nuclear starburst that becomes the best candidate for studying the relationship between starburst and active galactic nucleus activity. However, this central region is veiled by large amounts of dust, and it has been so far unclear which is the true dynamical nucleus to the point that there is no strong evidence that the galaxy harbors a supermassive black hole co-evolving with the starburst as was supposed earlier. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, especially NIR emission line analysis, could be advantageous in shedding light on the true nucleus identity. Using Flamingos-2 at Gemini Southmore » we have taken deep K-band spectra along the major axis of the central structure and through the brightest infrared source. In this work, we present evidence showing that the brightest NIR and mid-infrared source in the central region, already known as radio source TH7 and so far considered just a large stellar supercluster, in fact presents various symptoms of a genuine galactic nucleus. Therefore, it should be considered a valid nucleus candidate. Mentioning some distinctive aspects, it is the most massive compact infrared object in the central region, located at 2.″0 of the symmetry center of the galactic bar, as measured in the K-band emission. Moreover, our data indicate that this object is surrounded by a large circumnuclear stellar disk and it is also located at the rotation center of the large molecular gas disk of NGC 253. Furthermore, a kinematic residual appears in the H{sub 2} rotation curve with a sinusoidal shape consistent with an outflow centered in the candidate nucleus position. The maximum outflow velocity is located about 14 pc from TH7, which is consistent with the radius of a shell detected around the nucleus candidate, observed at 18.3 μm (Qa) and 12.8 μm ([Ne ii]) with T-ReCS. Also, the Brγ emission line profile shows a pronounced blueshift and this emission line also has the highest equivalent width at this position. All this evidence points to TH7 as the best candidate for the galactic nucleus of NGC 253.« less

Expanding relativistic shells and gamma-ray burst temporal structure

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

Fenimore, E.E.; Madras, C.D.; Nayakshin, S.

1996-12-01

Many models of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) involve a shell expanding at extreme relativistic speeds. The shell of material expands in a photon-quiet phase for a period {ital t}{sub 0} and then becomes gamma-ray active, perhaps due to inhomogeneities in the interstellar medium or the generation of shocks. Based on kinematics, we relate the envelope of the emission of the event to the characteristics of the photon-quiet and photon-active phases. We initially assume local spherical symmetry wherein, on average, the same conditions prevail over the shell`s surface within angles the order of {Gamma}{sup {minus}1}, where {Gamma} is the Lorentz factor formore » the bulk motion. The contribution of the curvature to the temporal structure is comparable to the contribution from the overall expansion. As a result, GRB time histories from a shell should have an envelope similar to {open_quotes}FRED{close_quotes} (fast rise, exponential decay) events in which the rise time is related to the duration of the photon-active phase and the fall time is related to the duration of the photon-quiet phase. This result depends only on local spherical symmetry and, since most GRBs do not have such envelopes, we introduce the {open_quotes}shell symmetry{close_quotes} problem: the observed time history envelopes of most GRBs do not agree with that expected for a relativistic expanding shell. Although FREDs have the signature of a relativistic shell, they may not be due to a single shell, as required by some cosmological models. Some FREDs have precursors in which the peaks are separated by more than the expansion time required to explain FRED shape. Such a burst is most likely explained by a central engine; that is, the separation of the multiple peaks occurs because the central site produced multiple releases of energy on timescales comparable to the duration of the event. (Abstract Truncated)« less

Short-Range Nucleon-Nucleon Correlations

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

Douglas Higinbotham

2011-10-01

Valence-shell nucleon knock-out experiments, such as 12C(e,e'p)11B, measure less strength then is predicted by independent particle shell model calculations. The theoretical solution to this problem is to include the correlations between the nucleons in the nucleus in the calculations. Motivated by these results, many electron scattering experiments have tried to directly observe these correlations in order to gain new insight into the short-range part of the nucleon-nucleon potential. Unfortunately, many competing mechanisms can cause the same observable final-state as an initial-state correlation, making truly isolating the signal extremely challenging. This paper reviews the recent experimental evidence for short-range correlations, asmore » well as explores the possibility that such correlations are responsible for the EMC effect in the 0.3 < xB < 0.7 deep inelastic scattering ratios.« less

Fast-timing lifetime measurements of excited states in Cu67

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

NiÅ£ǎ, C. R.; Bucurescu, D.; Mǎrginean, N.; Avrigeanu, M.; Bocchi, G.; Bottoni, S.; Bracco, A.; Bruce, A. M.; Cǎta-Danil, G.; Coló, G.; Deleanu, D.; Filipescu, D.; GhiÅ£ǎ, D. G.; Glodariu, T.; Leoni, S.; Mihai, C.; Mason, P. J. R.; Mǎrginean, R.; Negret, A.; Pantelicǎ, D.; Podolyak, Z.; Regan, P. H.; Sava, T.; Stroe, L.; Toma, S.; Ur, C. A.; Wilson, E.

2014-06-01

The half-lives of the 9/2+, 13/2+, and 15/2+ yrast states in the neutron-rich Cu67 nucleus were determined by using the in-beam fast-timing technique. The experimentally deduced E3 transition strength for the decay of the 9/2+ level to the 3/2- ground state indicates that the wave function of this level might contain a collective component arising from the coupling of the odd proton p3/2 with the 3- state in Ni66. Theoretical interpretations of the 9/2+ state are presented within the particle-vibration weak-coupling scheme involving the unpaired proton and the 3- state from Ni66 and within shell-model calculations with a Ni56 core using the jj44b residual interaction. The shell model also accounts reasonably well for the other measured electromagnetic transition probabilities.

Transport of Light Ions in Matter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, J. W.; Cucinotta, F. A.; Tai, H.; Shinn, J. L.; Chun, S. Y.; Tripathi, R. K.; Sihver, L.

1998-01-01

A recent set of light ion experiments are analyzed using the Green's function method of solving the Boltzmann equation for ions of high charge and energy (the GRNTRN transport code) and the NUCFRG2 fragmentation database generator code. Although the NUCFRG2 code reasonably represents the fragmentation of heavy ions, the effects of light ion fragmentation requires a more detailed nuclear model including shell structure and short range correlations appearing as tightly bound clusters in the light ion nucleus. The most recent NTJCFRG2 code is augmented with a quasielastic alpha knockout model and semiempirical adjustments (up to 30 percent in charge removal) in the fragmentation process allowing reasonable agreement with the experiments to be obtained. A final resolution of the appropriate cross sections must await the full development of a coupled channel reaction model in which shell structure and clustering can be accurately evaluated.

Gamma-ray Transition Matrix Elements in ^21Na: First TIGRESS Radioactive Beam Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hackman, Greg

2007-04-01

Modern shell model calculations should be expected to reliably reproduce the properties of the deformed five-particle nucleus ^21Na. However the lowest-lying B(E2) value deduced from lifetime and mixing ratio measurements disagrees with models by an unacceptably large factor of two. To measure the B(E2) values directly, a beam of ^21Na at 1.7 MeV/u from the TRIUMF ISAC facility was directed upon a 0.5 mg/cm^2 ^natTi target. Gamma-ray yield in coincidence with inelastically scattered heavy ions was measured with two TIGRESS high energy- and position-resolution germanium detector units and the BAMBINO highly segmented silicon detector system. The result resolves the discrepancy between the shell model and prior measurements. This represents the first radioactive in-beam experiment with TIGRESS.

Investigation of the two-quasiparticle bands in the doubly-odd nucleus 166Ta using a particle-number conserving cranked shell model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, ZhenHua

2016-07-01

The high-spin rotational properties of two-quasiparticle bands in the doubly-odd 166Ta are analyzed using the cranked shell model with pairing correlations treated by a particle-number conserving method, in which the blocking effects are taken into account exactly. The experimental moments of inertia and alignments and their variations with the rotational frequency hω are reproduced very well by the particle-number conserving calculations, which provides a reliable support to the configuration assignments in previous works for these bands. The backbendings in these two-quasiparticle bands are analyzed by the calculated occupation probabilities and the contributions of each orbital to the total angular momentum alignments. The moments of inertia and alignments for the Gallagher-Moszkowski partners of these observed two-quasiparticle rotational bands are also predicted.

The Long and Viscous Road: Uncovering Nuclear Diffusion Barriers in Closed Mitosis

PubMed Central

Zavala, Eder; Marquez-Lago, Tatiana T.

2014-01-01

Diffusion barriers are effective means for constraining protein lateral exchange in cellular membranes. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, they have been shown to sustain parental identity through asymmetric segregation of ageing factors during closed mitosis. Even though barriers have been extensively studied in the plasma membrane, their identity and organization within the nucleus remains poorly understood. Based on different lines of experimental evidence, we present a model of the composition and structural organization of a nuclear diffusion barrier during anaphase. By means of spatial stochastic simulations, we propose how specialised lipid domains, protein rings, and morphological changes of the nucleus may coordinate to restrict protein exchange between mother and daughter nuclear lobes. We explore distinct, plausible configurations of these diffusion barriers and offer testable predictions regarding their protein exclusion properties and the diffusion regimes they generate. Our model predicts that, while a specialised lipid domain and an immobile protein ring at the bud neck can compartmentalize the nucleus during early anaphase; a specialised lipid domain spanning the elongated bridge between lobes would be entirely sufficient during late anaphase. Our work shows how complex nuclear diffusion barriers in closed mitosis may arise from simple nanoscale biophysical interactions. PMID:25032937

On the Mössbauer Effect and the Rigid Recoil Question

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davidson, Mark

2017-03-01

The rigid recoil of a crystal is the accepted mechanism for the Mössbauer effect. It's at odds with the special theory of relativity which does not allow perfectly rigid bodies. The standard model of particle physics which includes QED should not allow any signals to be transmitted faster than the speed of light. If perturbation theory can be used, then the X-ray emitted in a Mössbauer decay must come from a single nuclear decay vertex at which the 4-momentum is exactly conserved in a Feynman diagram. Then the 4-momentum of the final state Mössbauer nucleus must be slightly off the mass shell. This off-shell behavior would be followed by subsequent diffusion of momentum throughout the crystal to bring the nucleus back onto the mass shell and the crystal to a final relaxed state in which it moves rigidly with the appropriate recoil velocity. This mechanism explains the Mössbauer effect at the microscopic level and reconciles it with relativity. Because off-mass-shell quantum mechanics is required, the on-mass-shell theories developed originally for the Mössbauer effect are inadequate. Another possibility is that that the recoil response involves a non-perturbative effect in the standard model which could allow for a non-local instantaneous momentum transfer between the crystal and the decay (or absorption), as proposed for example by Preparata and others in super-radiance theory. The recoil time of the crystal is probably not instantaneous, and if it could be measured, one could distinguish between various theories. An experiment is proposed in this paper to measure this time. The idea is to measure the total energy radiated due to bremsstrahlung from a charged Mössbauer crystal which has experienced a recoil. Using Larmor's formula, along with corrections to it, allows one to design an experiment. The favored idea is to use many small nano-spheres of Mössbauer-active metals, whose outer surfaces are charged. The energy radiated then varies as the charge squared divided by the recoil time. This can then be measured with the extreme sensitivity available in Mössbauer experiments. If it turns out that experiments prove the need for off-mass-shell theory, then this would have profound implications for all of condensed matter physics. It would mean that an off-mass-shell theory like those considered by Stueckelberg, Horwitz, Piron, Greenberger, and many others are required to describe nature. The inclusion of these would be a major shift in the foundations. It would mean that there are new dynamic variables—the rest masses of particles. The ability to measure the diffusion relaxation time should prove useful also in chemical analysis, and provide a new class of analytical methods for material science. This problem is also interesting because the Mössbauer effect is a phenomenon where the solid-state environment dramatically and indisputably influences the probability of a nuclear process.

Sound Transmission through Two Concentric Cylindrical Sandwich Shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tang, Yvette Y.; Silcox, Richard J.; Robinson, Jay H.

1996-01-01

This paper solves the problem of sound transmission through a system of two infinite concentric cylindrical sandwich shells. The shells are surrounded by external and internal fluid media and there is fluid (air) in the annular space between them. An oblique plane sound wave is incident upon the surface of the outer shell. A uniform flow is moving with a constant velocity in the external fluid medium. Classical thin shell theory is applied to the inner shell and first-order shear deformation theory is applied to the outer shell. A closed form for transmission loss is derived based on modal analysis. Investigations have been made for the impedance of both shells and the transmission loss through the shells from the exterior into the interior. Results are compared for double sandwich shells and single sandwich shells. This study shows that: (1) the impedance of the inner shell is much smaller than that of the outer shell so that the transmission loss is almost the same in both the annular space and the interior cavity of the shells; (2) the two concentric sandwich shells can produce an appreciable increase of transmission loss over single sandwich shells especially in the high frequency range; and (3) design guidelines may be derived with respect to the noise reduction requirement and the pressure in the annular space at a mid-frequency range.

Potential energy curves of the Na2+ molecular ion from all-electron ab initio relativistic calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bewicz, Anna; Musiał, Monika; Kucharski, Stanisław A.

2017-11-01

The equation-of-motion coupled-cluster method for electron affinity calculations has been used to study potential energy curves (PECs) for the Na+2 molecular ion. Although the studied molecule represents the open shell system the applied approach employs the closed shell Na+ 22 ion as the reference. In addition the Na+ 22 system dissociates into the closed shell fragments; hence, the restricted Hartree-Fock scheme can be used within the whole range of interatomic distances, from 2 to 45 Å. We used large basis set engaging 268 basis functions with all 21 electrons correlated. The relativistic effects are included via second-order Douglas-Kroll method. The computed PECs, spectroscopic molecular constants and vibrational energy levels agree well with experimental values if the latter are available or with other theoretical data.

Does the 4f-shell contribute to bonding in tetravalent lanthanide halides?

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

Ji, Wen-Xin; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, 750015 Yinchuan; Xu, Wei

2014-12-28

Lanthanide tetrahalide molecules LnX{sub 4} (Ln = Ce, Pr, Tb; X = F, Cl, Br, I) have been investigated by density functional theory at the levels of the relativistic Zero Order Regular Approximation and the relativistic energy-consistent pseudopotentials, using frozen small- and medium-cores. The calculated bond lengths and vibrational frequencies are close to the experimental data. Our calculations indicate 4f shell contributions to bonding in LnX{sub 4}, in particular for the early lanthanides, which show significant overlap between the Ln 4f-shell and the halogen np-shells. The 4f shells contribute to Ln-X bonding in LnX{sub 4} about one third more thanmore » in LnX{sub 3}.« less

On the shape and orientation control of an orbiting shallow spherical shell structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bainum, P. M.; Reddy, A. S. S. R.

1982-01-01

The dynamics of orbiting shallow flexible spherical shell structures under the influence of control actuators was studied. Control laws are developed to provide both attitude and shape control of the structure. The elastic modal frequencies for the fundamental and lower modes are closely grouped due to the effect of the shell curvature. The shell is gravity stabilized by a spring loaded dumbbell type damper attached at its apex. Control laws are developed based on the pole clustering techniques. Savings in fuel consumption can be realized by using the hybrid shell dumbbell system together with point actuators. It is indicated that instability may result by not including the orbital and first order gravity gradient effects in the plant prior to control law design.

THERMALLY SHIELDED MOISTURE REMOVAL DEVICE

DOEpatents

Miller, O.E.

1958-08-26

An apparatus is presented for removing moisture from the air within tanks by condensation upon a cartridge containing liquid air. An insulating shell made in two halves covers the cartridge within the evacuated system. The shell halves are hinged together and are operated by a system of levers from outside the tank with the motion translated through a sylphon bellows to cover and uncover the cartridge. When the condensation of moisture is in process, the insulative shell is moved away from the liquid air cartridge, and during that part of the process when there is no freezing out of moisture, the shell halves are closed on the cell so thnt the accumulated frost is not evaporated. This insulating shell greatly reduces the consumption of liquid air in this condensation process.

Modeling the surface and interior structure of comet nuclei using a multidisciplinary approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Odell, C. R.; Dakoulas, Panos C.; Pharr, George M.

1991-01-01

The goal was to investigate the structural properties of the surface of comet nucleus and how the surface should change with time under effect of solar radiation. The basic model that was adopted was that the nucleus is an aggregate of frosty particles loosely bound together, so that it is essentially a soil. The nucleus must mostly be composed of dust particles. The observed mass ratios of dust to gas in the coma is never much greater than unity, but this ratio is probably a much lower limit than that of the nucleus because it is vastly easier to remove the gaseous component by sublimation than by carrying off the dust. Therefore the described models assumed that the particles in the soil were frost covered grains of submicron basic size, closely resembling the interstellar grains. The surface properties of such a nucleus under the effects of heating and cooling as the nucleus approaches and recedes from the Sun generally characterized.

Simulating Self-Assembly with Simple Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rapaport, D. C.

Results from recent molecular dynamics simulations of virus capsid self-assembly are described. The model is based on rigid trapezoidal particles designed to form polyhedral shells of size 60, together with an atomistic solvent. The underlying bonding process is fully reversible. More extensive computations are required than in previous work on icosahedral shells built from triangular particles, but the outcome is a high yield of closed shells. Intermediate clusters have a variety of forms, and bond counts provide a useful classification scheme

Rosetta/OSIRIS - Nucleus morphology and activity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sierks, Holger; Barbieri, Cesare; Lamy, Philippe; Rickman, Hans; Rodrigo, Rafael; Koschny, Detlef

2015-04-01

ESA's Rosetta mission arrived on August 6, 2014, at target comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko after 10 years of cruise. OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System) is the scientific imaging system onboard Rosetta. It comprises a Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) for nucleus surface and dust studies and a Wide Angle Camera (WAC) for the wide field coma investigations. OSIRIS imaged the nucleus and coma of the comet from the arrival throughout the mapping phase, PHILAE landing, early escort phase and close fly-by. The overview paper will discuss the surface morpholo-gy and activity of the nucleus as seen in gas, dust, and local jets as well as small scale structures in the local topography.

The puzzling spectrum of HD 94509. Sounding out the extremes of Be shell star spectral morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowley, C. R.; Przybilla, N.; Hubrig, S.

2015-06-01

Context. The spectral features of HD 94509 are highly unusual, adding an extreme to the zoo of Be and shell stars. The shell dominates the spectrum, showing lines typical for spectral types mid-A to early-F, while the presence of a late/mid B-type central star is indicated by photospheric hydrogen line wings and helium lines. Numerous metallic absorption lines have broad wings but taper to narrow cores. They cannot be fit by Voigt profiles. Aims: We describe and illustrate unusual spectral features of this star, and make rough calculations to estimate physical conditions and abundances in the shell. Furthermore, the central star is characterized. Methods: We assume mean conditions for the shell. An electron density estimate is made from the Inglis-Teller formula. Excitation temperatures and column densities for Fe i and Fe ii are derived from curves of growth. The neutral H column density is estimated from high Paschen members. The column densities are compared with calculations made with the photoionization code Cloudy. Atmospheric parameters of the central star are constrained employing non-LTE spectrum synthesis. Results: Overall chemical abundances are close to solar. Column densities of the dominant ions of several elements, as well as excitation temperatures and the mean electron density are well accounted for by a simple model. Several features, including the degree of ionization, are less well described. Conclusions: HD 94509 is a Be star with a stable shell, close to the terminal-age main sequence. The dynamical state of the shell and the unusually shaped, but symmetric line profiles, require a separate study.

Two-cluster structure of some alpha-scattering resonances in the sd shell

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

Budzanowski, A.; Grotowski, K.; Strzalkowski, A.

1975-01-01

The excitation functions of the elastic scattering of alpha particles at backward angles on $sup 24$Mg and $sup 28$Si nuclei in the energy range from 23 to 28 MeV measured by Bobrowska et al. exhibit distinct maxima. It was shown that these maxima are not correlated with the structures seen in the excitation functions of the ($alpha$,$alpha$') and ($alpha$,p) reactions leading to low- lying excited states of the final nucleus possibly indicating the presence of Ericson fluctuations. (auth)

THE FIRST FERMI IN A HIGH ENERGY NUCLEAR COLLISION.

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

KRASNITZ,A.

1999-08-09

At very high energies, weak coupling, non-perturbative methods can be used to study classical gluon production in nuclear collisions. One observes in numerical simulations that after an initial formation time, the produced partons are on shell, and their subsequent evolution can be studied using transport theory. At the initial formation time, a simple non-perturbative relation exists between the energy and number densities of the produced partons, and a scale determined by the saturated parton density in the nucleus.

Pair production in classical Stueckelberg-Horwitz-Piron electrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Land, Martin

2015-05-01

We calculate pair production from bremsstrahlung as a classical effect in Stueckelberg-Horwitz electrodynamics. In this framework, worldlines are traced out dynamically through the evolution of events xμ(τ) parameterized by a chronological time τ that is independent of the spacetime coordinates. These events, defined in an unconstrained 8D phase space, interact through five τ-dependent gauge fields induced by the event evolution. The resulting theory differs in its underlying mechanics from conventional electromagnetism, but coincides with Maxwell theory in an equilibrium limit. In particular, the total mass-energy-momentum of particles and fields is conserved, but the mass-shell constraint is lifted from individual interacting events, so that the Feynman-Stueckelberg interpretation of pair creation/annihilation is implemented in classical mechanics. We consider a three-stage interaction which when parameterized by the laboratory clock x0 appears as (1) particle-1 scatters on a heavy nucleus to produce bremsstrahlung, (2) the radiation field produces a particle/antiparticle pair, (3) the antiparticle is annihilated with particle-2 in the presence of a second heavy nucleus. When parameterized in chronological time τ, the underlying process develops as (1) particle-2 scatters on the second nucleus and begins evolving backward in time with negative energy, (2) particle-1 scatters on the first nucleus and releases bremsstrahlung, (3) particle-2 absorbs radiation which returns it to forward time evolution with positive energy.

Localized surface plasmon mediated energy transfer in the vicinity of core-shell nanoparticle

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

Shishodia, Manmohan Singh, E-mail: manmohan@gbu.ac.in; Juneja, Soniya

2016-05-28

Multipole spectral expansion based theory of energy transfer interactions between a donor and an acceptor molecule in the vicinity of a core-shell (nanoshell or core@shell) based plasmonic nanostructure is developed. In view of the diverse applications and rich plasmonic features such as tuning capability of surface plasmon (SP) frequencies, greater sensitivity to the change of dielectric environment, controllable redirection of electromagnetic radiation, closed form expressions for Energy Transfer Rate Enhancement Factor (ETREF) near core-shell particle are reported. The dependence of ETREF on different parameters is established through fitting equations, perceived to be of key importance for developing appropriate designs. Themore » theoretical approach developed in the present work is capable of treating higher order multipoles, which, in turn, are also shown to play a crucial role in the present context. Moreover, closed form expressions derived in the present work can directly be used as formula, e.g., for designing SP based biosensors and estimating energy exchange between proteins and excitonic interactions in quantum dots.« less

Hexakis(3,6-di-tert-butyl-4-oxo-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene)cyclohexane: Closed-shell [6]Radialene or Open-shell Hexa-radicaloid?

PubMed

Wu, Jishan; Feng, Jiaqi; Gopalakrishna, Tullimilli Y; Phan, Hoa

2018-04-19

We report a star-shaped hexaquinocyclohexane molecule 4c, which turns out to be a closed-shell extended [6]radialene with a twisted-boat conformation according to X-ray crystallographic analysis. It was formed by an unusually slow decay of its in situ generated open-shell valence isomer, the hexa-radicaloid 4o, with a half-life time of about 156 min at room temperature. Reaction progress kinetic analysis revealed a large energy barrier of about 95.5 ± 4.3 kJ/mol at room temperature from the hexa-radical form 4o to the contorted [6]radialene form 4c, because the transformation need overcome large steric repulsion between the neighbouring phenoxyl units. Compound 4c can be chemically reduced to radical anion and dianion, and the dianion is actually a diradical dianion, with a calculated diradical character of 71.9%. This study demonstrated the unique chemical bonding nature of contorted quinoidal π-conjugated molecules and a very unusual valence isomerization process. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Vibration analysis of FG cylindrical shells with power-law index using discrete singular convolution technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mercan, Kadir; Demir, Çiǧdem; Civalek, Ömer

2016-01-01

In the present manuscript, free vibration response of circular cylindrical shells with functionally graded material (FGM) is investigated. The method of discrete singular convolution (DSC) is used for numerical solution of the related governing equation of motion of FGM cylindrical shell. The constitutive relations are based on the Love's first approximation shell theory. The material properties are graded in the thickness direction according to a volume fraction power law indexes. Frequency values are calculated for different types of boundary conditions, material and geometric parameters. In general, close agreement between the obtained results and those of other researchers has been found.

Oxytocin-induced yawning: sites of action in the brain and interaction with mesolimbic/mesocortical and incertohypothalamic dopaminergic neurons in male rats.

PubMed

Sanna, Fabrizio; Argiolas, Antonio; Melis, Maria Rosaria

2012-09-01

Oxytocin (80 ng) induces yawning when injected into the caudal part of the ventral tegmental area, the hippocampal ventral subiculum and the posteromedial nucleus of the amygdala of male rats. The behavioural response occurred concomitantly with an increase in the concentration of extracellular dopamine and its main metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the dialysate obtained from the shell of the nucleus accumbens and of the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex by means of intracerebral microdialysis. Both oxytocin responses were significantly reduced by d(CH₂)₅Tyr(Me)²-Orn⁸-vasotocin, a selective oxytocin receptor antagonist, injected in the above brain areas 15 min before oxytocin. Similar results were obtained by activating central oxytocinergic neurons originating in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and projecting to the ventral tegmental area, the hippocampus and the amygdala, with the dopamine agonist apomorphine given at a dose that induces yawning when injected into the paraventricular nucleus. Since oxytocin is considered a key regulator of emotional and social reward that enhances amygdala-dependent, socially reinforced learning and emotional empathy, mesolimbic and mesocortical dopamine neurons play a key role in motivation and reward, and yawning in mammals is considered a primitive, unconscious form of empathy, the present results support the hypothesis that oxytocinergic neurons originating in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and projecting to the above brain areas and mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic neurons participate in the complex neural circuits that play a role in the above mentioned functions. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KSC-02pd0963

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2) a worker monitors the fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft. SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Adsorption performance of coconut shell activated carbon for the removal of chlorate from chlor-alkali brine stream.

PubMed

Lakshmanan, Shyam; Murugesan, Thanapalan

2016-12-01

Activated carbon from coconut shell was used to investigate the adsorption of chlorate from a chlor-alkali plant's brine stream. The effect of pH, flowrate, chlorate and chloride concentration on the breakthrough curves were studied in small-scale column trials. The results obtained show enhanced adsorption at low flowrates, higher chlorate concentrations, and at a pH of 10. These studies show that introducing an activated carbon adsorption column just before the saturator would remove sufficient quantities of chlorate to allow more of the chlor-alkali plant's brine stream to be reused. From column dynamic studies, the Thomas model showed close approximation when the chlorate in the effluent was higher than breakthrough concentrations and there was close correlation at high influent concentration. The q o (maximum adsorption capacity) values were close to those obtained experimentally, indicating close representation of the breakthrough curve by the Thomas model.

Lesion of medial prefrontal dopamine terminals abolishes habituation of accumbens shell dopamine responsiveness to taste stimuli.

PubMed

Bimpisidis, Zisis; De Luca, Maria Antonietta; Pisanu, Augusta; Di Chiara, Gaetano

2013-02-01

Taste stimuli increase extracellular dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). This effect shows single-trial habituation in NAc shell but not in core or in mPFC. Morphine sensitization abolishes habituation of DA responsiveness in NAc shell but induces it in mPFC. These observations support the hypothesis of an inhibitory influence of mPFC DA on NAc DA. To test this hypothesis, we used in vivo microdialysis to investigate the effect of mPFC 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA) lesions on the NAc DA responsiveness to taste stimuli. 6-OHDA was infused bilaterally in the mPFC of rats implanted with guide cannulae. After 1 week, rats were implanted with an intraoral catheter, microdialysis probes were inserted into the guide cannulae, and dialysate DA was monitored in NAc shell/core after intraoral chocolate. 6-OHDA infusion reduced tissue DA in the mPFC by 75%. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry showed that lesions were confined to the mPFC. mPFC 6-OHDA lesion did not affect the NAc shell DA responsiveness to chocolate in naive rats but abolished habituation in rats pre-exposed to the taste. In the NAc core, mPFC lesion potentiated, delayed and prolonged the stimulatory DA response to taste but failed to affect DA in pre-exposed rats. Behavioural taste reactions and motor activity were not affected. The results indicate a top-down control of NAc DA by mPFC and a reciprocal relationship between DA transmission in these two areas. Moreover, habituation of DA responsiveness in the NAc shell is dependent upon an intact DA input to the mPFC. © 2012 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The tightly bound nuclei in the liquid drop model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sree Harsha, N. R.

2018-05-01

In this paper, we shall maximise the binding energy per nucleon function in the semi-empirical mass formula of the liquid drop model of the atomic nuclei to analytically prove that the mean binding energy per nucleon curve has local extrema at A ≈ 58.6960, Z ≈ 26.3908 and at A ≈ 62.0178, Z ≈ 27.7506. The Lagrange method of multipliers is used to arrive at these results, while we have let the values of A and Z take continuous fractional values. The shell model that shows why 62Ni is the most tightly bound nucleus is outlined. A brief account on stellar nucleosynthesis is presented to show why 56Fe is more abundant than 62Ni and 58Fe. We believe that the analytical proof presented in this paper can be a useful tool to the instructors to introduce the nucleus with the highest mean binding energy per nucleon.

Studying Electron-Capture on ^64Zn in Supernovae with the (t,^3He) Charge-Exchange Reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hitt, G. W.; Austin, Sam M.; Bazin, D.; Gade, A.; Guess, C. J.; Galaviz-Redondo, D.; Shimbara, Y.; Tur, C.; Zegers, R. G. T.; Horoi, M.; Howard, M. E.; Smith, E. E.

2008-10-01

A secondary, 115 MeV/u triton beam has been developed at NSCL for use in (t,^3He) charge-exchange(CE) reaction studies. This (n,p)-type CE reaction is useful for extracting the full Gamow-Teller (GT) response of the nucleus, overcoming Q-value restrictions present in conventional beta-decay studies. The strength (B(GT)) in ^64Cu has been determined from the absolute cross section measurement of ^64Zn(t,^3He) near zero-degrees, exploiting an empirical proportionality between cross section and B(GT). The detailed features of the B(GT) distribution in a nucleus has an important impact on electron-capture (EC) rates in Type Ia and Core-Collapse supernovae. The measured B(GT) in ^64Cu is directly compared with the results of modern shell model interactions which are used to calculate the GT contribution to EC on nuclei in supernova simulations.

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

Watanabe, H.; Zhang, G. X.; Yoshida, K.

The level structure of 172Dy has been investigated for the first time by means of decay spectroscopy following in-flight fission of a 238U beam. A long-lived isomeric state with T1/2 = 0.71(5) s and Kπ = 8- has been identified at 1278 keV, which decays to the ground-state and γ -vibrational bands through hindered electromagnetic transitions, as well as to the daughter nucleus 172Ho via allowed β decays. The robust nature of the Kπ = 8- isomer and the ground-state rotational band reveals an axially-symmetric structure for this nucleus. Meanwhile, the γ -vibrational levels have been identified at unusually lowmore » excitation energy compared to the neighboring well-deformed nuclei, indicating the significance of the microscopic effect on the non-axial collectivity in this doubly mid-shell region. The underlying mechanism of enhanced γ vibration is discussed in comparison with the deformed Quasiparticle Random-Phase Approximation based on a Skyrme energy-density functional.« less

Skyrme density functional description of the double magic 78Ni nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brink, D. M.; Stancu, Fl.

2018-06-01

We calculate the single-particle spectrum of the double magic nucleus 78Ni in a Hartree-Fock approach using the Skyrme density-dependent effective interaction containing central, spin-orbit, and tensor parts. We show that the tensor part has an important effect on the spin-orbit splitting of the proton 1 f orbit that may explain the survival of magicity so far from the stability valley. We confirm the inversion of the 1 f 5 /2 and 2 p 3 /2 levels at the neutron number 48 in the Ni isotopic chain expected from previous Monte Carlo shell-model calculations and supported by experimental observation.

Relativistic Coulomb Excitation within the Time Dependent Superfluid Local Density Approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stetcu, I.; Bertulani, C. A.; Bulgac, A.; Magierski, P.; Roche, K. J.

2015-01-01

Within the framework of the unrestricted time-dependent density functional theory, we present for the first time an analysis of the relativistic Coulomb excitation of the heavy deformed open shell nucleus 238U. The approach is based on the superfluid local density approximation formulated on a spatial lattice that can take into account coupling to the continuum, enabling self-consistent studies of superfluid dynamics of any nuclear shape. We compute the energy deposited in the target nucleus as a function of the impact parameter, finding it to be significantly larger than the estimate using the Goldhaber-Teller model. The isovector giant dipole resonance, the dipole pygmy resonance, and giant quadrupole modes are excited during the process. The one-body dissipation of collective dipole modes is shown to lead a damping width Γ↓≈0.4 MeV and the number of preequilibrium neutrons emitted has been quantified.

Relativistic Coulomb excitation within the time dependent superfluid local density approximation

DOE PAGES

Stetcu, I.; Bertulani, C. A.; Bulgac, A.; ...

2015-01-06

Within the framework of the unrestricted time-dependent density functional theory, we present for the first time an analysis of the relativistic Coulomb excitation of the heavy deformed open shell nucleus 238U. The approach is based on the superfluid local density approximation formulated on a spatial lattice that can take into account coupling to the continuum, enabling self-consistent studies of superfluid dynamics of any nuclear shape. We compute the energy deposited in the target nucleus as a function of the impact parameter, finding it to be significantly larger than the estimate using the Goldhaber-Teller model. The isovector giant dipole resonance, themore » dipole pygmy resonance, and giant quadrupole modes are excited during the process. As a result, the one-body dissipation of collective dipole modes is shown to lead a damping width Γ↓≈0.4 MeV and the number of preequilibrium neutrons emitted has been quantified.« less

Structure of the exotic 9He nucleus from the no-core shell model with continuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vorabbi, Matteo; Calci, Angelo; Navrátil, Petr; Kruse, Michael K. G.; Quaglioni, Sofia; Hupin, Guillaume

2018-03-01

Background: The exotic 9He nucleus, which presents one of the most extreme neutron-to-proton ratios, belongs to the N =7 isotonic chain famous for the phenomenon of ground-state parity inversion with decreasing number of protons. Consequently, it would be expected to have an unnatural (positive) parity ground state similar to 11Be and 10Li. Despite many experimental and theoretical investigations, its structure remains uncertain. Apart from the fact that it is unbound, other properties including the spin and parity of its ground state, and the very existence of additional low-lying resonances are still a matter of debate. Purpose: In this work, we study the properties of 9He by analyzing the n +8He continuum in the context of the ab initio no-core shell model with continuum (NCSMC) formalism with chiral nucleon-nucleon interactions as the only input. Methods: The NCSMC is a state-of-the-art approach for the ab initio description of light nuclei. With its capability to predict properties of bound states, resonances, and scattering states in a unified framework, the method is particularly well suited for the study of unbound nuclei such as 9He. Results: Our analysis produces an unbound 9He nucleus. Two resonant states are found at the energies of ˜1 and ˜3.5 MeV, respectively, above the n +8He breakup threshold. The first state has a spin-parity assignment of Jπ=1/2 - and can be associated with the ground state of 9He, while the second, broader state has a spin parity of 3/2 -. No resonance is found in the 1/2 + channel, only a very weak attraction. Conclusions: We find that the 9He ground-state resonance has a negative parity and thus breaks the parity-inversion mechanism found in the 11Be and 10Li nuclei of the same N =7 isotonic chain.

Differential cross section for the 16O( t, p)18O reaction and determination of the size of the two-neutron periphery in the 18O nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galanina, L. I.; Zelenskaya, N. S.

2017-09-01

Within the theoretical formalism that combines a four-body problem with themultiparticle shell model, it is shown that the cross section for the dineuteron-stripping mechanism is consistent with the experimental angular distribution of protons from the 16O( t, p)18O reaction. This makes it possible to find the wave function for the relative motion of the dineutron and 16O and to obtain thereby the probability density W( r) for the dineutron in 18O, the nn-16O interaction potential, and the root-mean-square distance 〈 L〉 nn between the dineutron and 16O. The respective calculations reveal that, at r ≈ 8 fm, the dineutron probability density and a rather deep nn-16O potential become negligible, which leads to the absence of a dineuntron periphery in 18O. It seems that one can explain this fact by a rather large value (12.19 MeV) of the dineutron binding energy in this nucleus. Thus, the 18O nucleus is quite compact an object, despite the excess of two neutrons, and has a neutron skin rather than a periphery.

KSC-02pd0742

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-05-22

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2, workers watch closely as the CONTOUR spacecraft is lowered toward the apogee kick motor to which it will be attached. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. The spacecraft will fly close to at least two comets, Encke and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, taking pictures of the nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround these rocky, icy building blocks of the solar system. The Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., built CONTOUR and will also be in control of the spacecraft after launch, scheduled for July 1, 2002, from LC 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Coupled mixed-field laminate theory and finite element for smart piezoelectric composite shell structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saravanos, Dimitris A.

1996-01-01

Mechanics for the analysis of laminated composite shells with piezoelectric actuators and sensors are presented. A new mixed-field laminate theory for piezoelectric shells is formulated in curvilinear coordinates which combines single-layer assumptions for the displacements and a layerwise representation for the electric potential. The resultant coupled governing equations for curvilinear piezoelectric laminates are described. Structural mechanics are subsequently developed and an 8-node finite-element is formulated for the static and dynamic analysis of adaptive composite structures of general laminations containing piezoelectric layers. Evaluations of the method and comparisons with reported results are presented for laminated piezoelectric-composite plates, a closed cylindrical shell with a continuous piezoceramic layer and a laminated composite semi-circular cantilever shell with discrete cylindrical piezoelectric actuators and/or sensors.

The relativistic theory of the chemical shift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pyper, N. C.

1983-04-01

A relativistic theory of the NMR chemical shift for a closed-shell system is presented. The final expression for the shielding, derived by, applying two Gordon decompositions to the Dirac current operator, closely parallels the Ramsey non-relativistic result.

Deformed shell model study of event rates for WIMP-73Ge scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahu, R.; Kota, V. K. B.

2017-12-01

The event detection rates for the Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMP) (a dark matter candidate) are calculated with 73Ge as the detector. The calculations are performed within the deformed shell model (DSM) based on Hartree-Fock states. First, the energy levels and magnetic moment for the ground state and two low-lying positive parity states for this nucleus are calculated and compared with experiment. The agreement is quite satisfactory. Then the nuclear wave functions are used to investigate the elastic and inelastic scattering of WIMP from 73Ge; inelastic scattering, especially for the 9/2+ → 5/2+ transition, is studied for the first time. The nuclear structure factors which are independent of supersymmetric model are also calculated as a function of WIMP mass. The event rates are calculated for a given set of nucleonic current parameters. The calculation shows that 73Ge is a good detector for detecting dark matter.

Deformed shell model calculations of half lives for β+/EC decay and 2ν β+β+/β+EC/ECEC decay in medium-heavy N~Z nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, S.; Shukla, A.; Sahu, R.; Kota, V. K. B.

2008-08-01

The β+/EC half-lives of medium heavy N~Z nuclei with mass number A~64-80 are calculated within the deformed shell model (DSM) based on Hartree-Fock states by employing a modified Kuo interaction in (2p3/2,1f5/2,2p1/2,1g9/2) space. The DSM model has been quite successful in predicting many spectroscopic properties of N~Z medium heavy nuclei with A~64-80. The calculated β+/EC half-lives, for prolate and oblate shapes, compare well with the predictions of the calculations with Skyrme force by Sarriguren Going further, following recent searches, half-lives for 2ν β+β+/β+EC/ECEC decay for the nucleus Kr78 are calculated using DSM and the results compare well with QRPA predictions.

First determination of ground state electromagnetic moments of Fe 53

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

Miller, A. J.; Minamisono, K.; Rossi, D. M.

Here, the hyperfine coupling constants of neutron deficient 53Fe were deduced from the atomic hyperfine spectrum measured using the bunched-beam collinear laser spectroscopy technique. The low-energy 53Fe beam was produced by projectile-fragmentation reactions followed by gas stopping, and used for the first time for laser spectroscopy. Ground state magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole moments were determined as μ= –0.65(1)μ N and Q=+35(15)e 2fm 2, respectively. The multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method was used to calculate the electric field gradient to deduce Q from the quadrupole hyperfine coupling constant, since the quadrupole coupling constant has not been determined for any Fe isotopes. Both experimental valuesmore » agree well with nuclear shell model calculations using the GXPF1A effective interaction performed in a full fp shell model space, which support the soft nature of the 56Ni nucleus.« less

First determination of ground state electromagnetic moments of Fe 53

DOE PAGES

Miller, A. J.; Minamisono, K.; Rossi, D. M.; ...

2017-11-16

Here, the hyperfine coupling constants of neutron deficient 53Fe were deduced from the atomic hyperfine spectrum measured using the bunched-beam collinear laser spectroscopy technique. The low-energy 53Fe beam was produced by projectile-fragmentation reactions followed by gas stopping, and used for the first time for laser spectroscopy. Ground state magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole moments were determined as μ= –0.65(1)μ N and Q=+35(15)e 2fm 2, respectively. The multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method was used to calculate the electric field gradient to deduce Q from the quadrupole hyperfine coupling constant, since the quadrupole coupling constant has not been determined for any Fe isotopes. Both experimental valuesmore » agree well with nuclear shell model calculations using the GXPF1A effective interaction performed in a full fp shell model space, which support the soft nature of the 56Ni nucleus.« less

Shell Evolution towards 78Ni: Low-Lying States in 77Cu

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahin, E.; Bello Garrote, F. L.; Tsunoda, Y.; Otsuka, T.; de Angelis, G.; Görgen, A.; Niikura, M.; Nishimura, S.; Xu, Z. Y.; Baba, H.; Browne, F.; Delattre, M.-C.; Doornenbal, P.; Franchoo, S.; Gey, G.; Hadyńska-KlÈ©k, K.; Isobe, T.; John, P. R.; Jung, H. S.; Kojouharov, I.; Kubo, T.; Kurz, N.; Li, Z.; Lorusso, G.; Matea, I.; Matsui, K.; Mengoni, D.; Morfouace, P.; Napoli, D. R.; Naqvi, F.; Nishibata, H.; Odahara, A.; Sakurai, H.; Schaffner, H.; Söderström, P.-A.; Sohler, D.; Stefan, I. G.; Sumikama, T.; Suzuki, D.; Taniuchi, R.; Taprogge, J.; Vajta, Z.; Watanabe, H.; Werner, V.; Wu, J.; Yagi, A.; Yalcinkaya, M.; Yoshinaga, K.

2017-06-01

The level structure of the neutron-rich 77Cu nucleus is investigated through β -delayed γ -ray spectroscopy at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of the RIKEN Nishina Center. Ions of 77Ni are produced by in-flight fission, separated and identified in the BigRIPS fragment separator, and implanted in the WAS3ABi silicon detector array, surrounded by Ge cluster detectors of the EURICA array. A large number of excited states in 77Cu are identified for the first time by correlating γ rays with the β decay of 77Ni, and a level scheme is constructed by utilizing their coincidence relationships. The good agreement between large-scale Monte Carlo shell model calculations and experimental results allows for the evaluation of the single-particle structure near 78Ni and suggests a single-particle nature for both the 5 /21- and 3 /21- states in 77Cu, leading to doubly magic 78Ni.

Enhanced Control of Attention by Stimulating Mesolimbic-Corticopetal Cholinergic Circuitry

PubMed Central

St. Peters, Megan; Demeter, Elise; Lustig, Cindy; Bruno, John P.; Sarter, Martin

2011-01-01

Sustaining and recovering attentional performance requires interactions between the brain’s motivation and attention systems. The first experiment demonstrated that in rats performing a sustained attention task (SAT), presentation of a distractor (dSAT) augmented performance-associated increases in cholinergic neurotransmission in prefrontal cortex (PFC). Because stimulation of NMDA receptors in the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAC) activates PFC cholinergic neurotransmission, a second experiment demonstrated that bilateral infusions of NMDA into the NAC shell, but not core, improved dSAT-performance to levels observed in the absence of a distractor. A third experiment demonstrated that removal of prefrontal or posterior parietal cholinergic inputs, by intra-cortical infusions of the cholinotoxin 192 IgG saporin, attenuated the beneficial effects of NMDA on dSAT perfomance. Mesolimbic activation of cholinergic projections to the cortex benefits the cognitive control of attentional performance by enhancing the detection of cues and the filtering of distractors. PMID:21715641

Design of an Ada expert system shell for the VHSIC avionic modular flight processor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fanning, F. Jesse

1992-01-01

The Embedded Computer System Expert System Shell (ES Shell) is an Ada-based expert system shell developed at the Avionics Laboratory for use on the VHSIC Avionic Modular Processor (VAMP) running under the Ada Avionics Real-Time Software (AARTS) Operating System. The ES Shell provides the interface between the expert system and the avionics environment, and controls execution of the expert system. Testing of the ES Shell in the Avionics Laboratory's Integrated Test Bed (ITB) has demonstrated its ability to control a non-deterministic software application executing on the VAMP's which can control the ITB's real-time closed-loop aircraft simulation. The results of these tests and the conclusions reached in the design and development of the ES Shell have played an important role in the formulation of the requirements for a production-quality expert system inference engine, an ingredient necessary for the successful use of expert systems on the VAMP embedded avionic flight processor.

Alteration of Mature Nucleocapsid and Enhancement of Covalently Closed Circular DNA Formation by Hepatitis B Virus Core Mutants Defective in Complete-Virion Formation.

PubMed

Cui, Xiuji; Luckenbaugh, Laurie; Bruss, Volker; Hu, Jianming

2015-10-01

Assembly of hepatitis B virus (HBV) begins with packaging of the pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) into immature nucleocapsids (NC), which are converted to mature NCs containing the genomic relaxed circular (RC) DNA as a result of reverse transcription. Mature NCs have two alternative fates: (i) envelopment by viral envelope proteins, leading to secretion extracellularly as virions, or (ii) disassembly (uncoating) to deliver their RC DNA content into the host cell nucleus for conversion to the covalently closed circular (CCC) DNA, the template for viral transcription. How these two alternative fates are regulated remains to be better understood. The NC shell is composed of multiple copies of a single viral protein, the HBV core (HBc) protein. HBc mutations located on the surface of NC have been identified that allow NC maturation but block its envelopment. The potential effects of some of these mutations on NC uncoating and CCC DNA formation have been analyzed by transfecting HBV replication constructs into hepatoma cells. All envelopment-defective HBc mutations tested were competent for CCC DNA formation, indicating that core functions in envelopment and uncoating/nuclear delivery of RC DNA were genetically separable. Some of the envelopment-defective HBc mutations were found to alter specifically the integrity of mature, but not immature, NCs such that RC DNA became susceptible to nuclease digestion. Furthermore, CCC DNA formation could be enhanced by NC surface mutations that did or did not significantly affect mature NC integrity, indicating that the NC surface residues may be closely involved in NC uncoating and/or nuclear delivery of RC DNA. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health issue worldwide. HBV assembly begins with the packaging into immature nucleocapsids (NCs) of a viral RNA pregenome, which is converted to the DNA genome in mature NCs. Mature NCs are then selected for envelopment and secretion as complete-virion particles or, alternatively, can deliver their DNA to the host cell nucleus to maintain the viral genome as nuclear episomes, which are the basis for virus persistence. Previous studies have identified mutations on the capsid surface that selectively block NC envelopment without affecting NC maturation. We have now discovered that some of the same mutations result in preferential alteration of mature NCs and increased viral nuclear episomes. These findings provide important new insights into the regulation of the two alternative fates of mature NCs and suggest new ways to perturb viral persistence by manipulating levels of viral nuclear episomes. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

A generic double-curvature piezoelectric shell energy harvester: Linear/nonlinear theory and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, X. F.; Hu, S. D.; Tzou, H. S.

2014-12-01

Converting vibration energy to useful electric energy has attracted much attention in recent years. Based on the electromechanical coupling of piezoelectricity, distributed piezoelectric zero-curvature type (e.g., beams and plates) energy harvesters have been proposed and evaluated. The objective of this study is to develop a generic linear and nonlinear piezoelectric shell energy harvesting theory based on a double-curvature shell. The generic piezoelectric shell energy harvester consists of an elastic double-curvature shell and piezoelectric patches laminated on its surface(s). With a current model in the closed-circuit condition, output voltages and energies across a resistive load are evaluated when the shell is subjected to harmonic excitations. Steady-state voltage and power outputs across the resistive load are calculated at resonance for each shell mode. The piezoelectric shell energy harvesting mechanism can be simplified to shell (e.g., cylindrical, conical, spherical, paraboloidal, etc.) and non-shell (beam, plate, ring, arch, etc.) distributed harvesters using two Lamé parameters and two curvature radii of the selected harvester geometry. To demonstrate the utility and simplification procedures, the generic linear/nonlinear shell energy harvester mechanism is simplified to three specific structures, i.e., a cantilever beam case, a circular ring case and a conical shell case. Results show the versatility of the generic linear/nonlinear shell energy harvesting mechanism and the validity of the simplification procedures.

SHELL MICROSTRUCTURE OF GASTROPODS FROM LAKE TANGANYIKA, AFRICA: ADAPTATION, CONVERGENT EVOLUTION, AND ESCALATION.

PubMed

West, Kelly; Cohen, Andrew

1996-04-01

Gastropod shells from Lake Tanganyika, with their heavy calcification, coarse noded ribbing, spines, apertural lip thickening and repair scars, resemble marine shells more closely than they resemble other lacustrine shells. This convergence between Tanganyikan and marine gastropod shells, however, is not just superficial. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies reveal that the Tanganyikan shells are primarily layers of crossed-lamellar crystal architecture (that is, needle-like aragonite crystals arranged into laths that are packed into sheets such that the aragonite needles of adjacent laths are never parallel). The number of crossed-lamellar layers can vary from one to four between different Tanganyikan gastropod species. In species with two or more crossed-lamellar layers, the orientation of the lamellae is offset by approximately 90° between the different layers. The number of crossed-lamellar layers in the shell wall is positively correlated with shell strength and with predation resistance. Three and four crossed-lamellar layers in the shell wall evolved several times independently within the endemic thiarid gastropod radiation in Lake Tanganyika. Repeated origins of three and four crossed-lamellar layers suggest that they may be specific adaptations by Tanganyikan gastropods to strengthen their shells as a defense against shell-crushing predators. © 1996 The Society for the Study of Evolution.

MHD Waves in Coronal Loops with a Shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mikhalyaev, B. B.; Solov'ev, A. A.

2004-04-01

We consider a model of a coronal loop in the form of a cord surrounded by a coaxial shell. Two slow magnetosonic waves longitudinally propagate within a thin flux tube on the m = 0 cylindrical mode with velocities close to the tube velocities in the cord and the shell. One wave propagates inside the cord, while the other propagates inside the shell. A peculiar feature of the second wave is that the plasma in the cord and the shell oscillates with opposite phases. There are two fast magnetosonic waves on each of the cylindrical modes with m > 0. If the plasma density in the shell is lower than that in the surrounding corona, then one of the waves is radiated into the corona, which causes the loop oscillations to be damped, while the other wave is trapped by the cord, but can also be radiated out under certain conditions. If the plasma density in the shell is higher than that in the cord, then one of the waves is trapped by the shell, while the other wave can also be trapped by the shell under certain conditions. In the wave trapped by the shell and the wave radiated by the tube, the plasma in the cord and the shell oscillates with opposite phases.

The neurobiology of tobacco dependence: a preclinical perspective on the role of the dopamine projections to the nucleus accumbens [corrected].

PubMed

Balfour, David J K

2004-12-01

It is now widely accepted that nicotine is the primary addictive component of tobacco smoke and that a majority of habitual smokers find it difficult to quit smoking because of their dependence upon this component of the smoke. However, although nicotine replacement therapy elicits a clinically valuable and significant improvement in the number of quit attempts that are ultimately successful, its efficacy remains disappointingly low. This review considers some of the reasons for this problem. It focuses on the hypothesis that stimulation of the dopamine (DA) projections to the medial shell and the core of the nucleus accumbens play complementary roles in the development of nicotine dependence. The hypothesis proposes that increased extra-synaptic DA in the medial shell of the accumbens confers hedonic properties on behaviors, such as smoking, which deliver nicotine, and thereby increase the probability that the response is learned. It also summarizes the evidence that the primary role of the increased DA overflow, observed in the accumbal core of nicotine-pretreated individuals, challenged with nicotine, is the attribution of incentive salience to cues associated with delivery of the drug and the transition to Pavlovian responding to these conditioned stimuli. The review argues that sensitization of the DA projections to the accumbal core, and the behaviors that depend upon this process, play a pivotal role in the maintenance of the tobacco smoking habit and that it is this component of the dependence that is inadequately addressed by nicotine replacement therapy.

The sleep-promoting and hypothermic effects of glycine are mediated by NMDA receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

PubMed

Kawai, Nobuhiro; Sakai, Noriaki; Okuro, Masashi; Karakawa, Sachie; Tsuneyoshi, Yosuke; Kawasaki, Noriko; Takeda, Tomoko; Bannai, Makoto; Nishino, Seiji

2015-05-01

The use of glycine as a therapeutic option for improving sleep quality is a novel and safe approach. However, despite clinical evidence of its efficacy, the details of its mechanism remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the site of action and sleep-promoting mechanisms of glycine in rats. In acute sleep disturbance, oral administration of glycine-induced non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and shortened NREM sleep latency with a simultaneous decrease in core temperature. Oral and intracerebroventricular injection of glycine elevated cutaneous blood flow (CBF) at the plantar surface in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in heat loss. Pretreatment with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists AP5 and CGP78608 but not the glycine receptor antagonist strychnine inhibited the CBF increase caused by glycine injection into the brain. Induction of c-Fos expression was observed in the hypothalamic nuclei, including the medial preoptic area (MPO) and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) shell after glycine administration. Bilateral microinjection of glycine into the SCN elevated CBF in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no effect was observed when glycine was injected into the MPO and dorsal subparaventricular zone. In addition, microinjection of D-serine into the SCN also increased CBF, whereas these effects were blocked in the presence of L-701324. SCN ablation completely abolished the sleep-promoting and hypothermic effects of glycine. These data suggest that exogenous glycine promotes sleep via peripheral vasodilatation through the activation of NMDA receptors in the SCN shell.

Caffeine Induces a Stimulant Effect and Increases Dopamine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell Through the Pulmonary Inhalation Route of Administration in Rats.

PubMed

Galvalisi, Martín; Prieto, José Pedro; Martínez, Marcela; Abin-Carriquiry, Juan Andrés; Scorza, Cecilia

2017-01-01

Oral, intraperitoneal, or intravenous have been the common routes of administration used to study the behavioral and neurochemical pharmacology of caffeine, one of the most widely used psychoactive substances worldwide. We have reported that caffeine is an active adulterant frequently found in coca-paste (CP)-seized samples, a highly addictive form of smokable cocaine. The role of caffeine in the psychostimulant and neurochemical effects induced by CP remains under study. No preclinical animal studies have been performed so far to characterize the effects of caffeine when it is administered through the pulmonary inhalation route. Caffeine (10, 25, and 50 mg) was volatilized and rats were exposed to one inhalation session of its vapor. The stimulant effect was automatically recorded and plasmatic levels of caffeine were measured. Caffeine capability (50 mg) to increase extracellular dopamine (DA) levels in nucleus accumbens shell was also studied by in vivo microdialysis in non-anesthetized animals. A dose-dependent stimulant effect induced by volatilized caffeine was observed and this effect was directly related with caffeine plasmatic levels. A significant increase in the extracellular DA was achieved after 50 mg of volatilized caffeine exposure. This is the first report showing pharmacological acute effects of caffeine through the pulmonary inhalation route of administration and suggests that this could be a condition under which caffeine can elevate its weak reinforcing effect and even enhance the psychostimulant effect and abuse liability of smokable adulterated psychostimulant drugs.

Infusion of fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens increases blood glucose concentrations in rats.

PubMed

Diepenbroek, C; Rijnsburger, M; Eggels, L; van Megen, K M; Ackermans, M T; Fliers, E; Kalsbeek, A; Serlie, M J; la Fleur, S E

2017-01-10

The brain is well known to regulate blood glucose, and the hypothalamus and hindbrain, in particular, have been studied extensively to understand the underlying mechanisms. Nuclei in these regions respond to alterations in blood glucose concentrations and can alter glucose liver output or glucose tissue uptake to maintain blood glucose concentrations within strict boundaries. Interestingly, several cortico-limbic regions also respond to alterations in glucose concentrations and have been shown to project to hypothalamic nuclei and glucoregulatory organs. For instance, electrical stimulation of the shell of the nucleus accumbens (sNAc) results in increased circulating concentrations of glucose and glucagon and activation of the lateral hypothalamus (LH). Whether this is caused by the simultaneous increase in serotonin release in the sNAc remains to be determined. To study the effect of sNAc serotonin on systemic glucose metabolism, we implanted bilateral microdialysis probes in the sNAc of male Wistar rats and infused fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or vehicle after which blood glucose, endogenous glucose production (EGP) and glucoregulatory hormones were measured. Fluoxetine in the sNAc for 1h significantly increased blood glucose concentrations without an effect on glucoregulatory hormones. This increase was accompanied by a higher EGP in the fluoxetine infused rats compared to the controls. These data provide further evidence for a role of sNAc-serotonin in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sound Transmission through Cylindrical Shell Structures Excited by Boundary Layer Pressure Fluctuations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tang, Yvette Y.; Silcox, Richard J.; Robinson, Jay H.

1996-01-01

This paper examines sound transmission into two concentric cylindrical sandwich shells subject to turbulent flow on the exterior surface of the outer shell. The interior of the shells is filled with fluid medium and there is an airgap between the shells in the annular space. The description of the pressure field is based on the cross-spectral density formulation of Corcos, Maestrello, and Efimtsov models of the turbulent boundary layer. The classical thin shell theory and the first-order shear deformation theory are applied for the inner and outer shells, respectively. Modal expansion and the Galerkin approach are used to obtain closed-form solutions for the shell displacements and the radiation and transmission pressures in the cavities including both the annular space and the interior. The average spectral density of the structural responses and the transmitted interior pressures are expressed explicitly in terms of the summation of the cross-spectral density of generalized force induced by the boundary layer turbulence. The effects of acoustic and hydrodynamic coincidences on the spectral density are observed. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the method for both subsonic and supersonic flows.

Buckling of circular cylindrical shells under dynamically applied axial loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tulk, J. D.

1972-01-01

A theoretical and experimental study was made of the buckling characteristics of perfect and imperfect circular cylindrical shells subjected to dynamic axial loading. Experimental data included dynamic buckling loads (124 data points), high speed photographs of buckling mode shapes and observations of the dynamic stability of shells subjected to rapidly applied sub-critical loads. A mathematical model was developed to describe the dynamic behavior of perfect and imperfect shells. This model was based on the Donnell-Von Karman compatibility and equilibrium equations and had a wall deflection function incorporating five separate modes of deflection. Close agreement between theory and experiment was found for both dynamic buckling strength and buckling mode shapes.

Influence of an asymmetric ring on the modeling of an orthogonally stiffened cylindrical shell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rastogi, Naveen; Johnson, Eric R.

1994-01-01

Structural models are examined for the influence of a ring with an asymmetrical cross section on the linear elastic response of an orthogonally stiffened cylindrical shell subjected to internal pressure. The first structural model employs classical theory for the shell and stiffeners. The second model employs transverse shear deformation theories for the shell and stringer and classical theory for the ring. Closed-end pressure vessel effects are included. Interacting line load intensities are computed in the stiffener-to-skin joints for an example problem having the dimensions of the fuselage of a large transport aircraft. Classical structural theory is found to exaggerate the asymmetric response compared to the transverse shear deformation theory.

High throughput chemical munitions treatment system

DOEpatents

Haroldsen, Brent L [Manteca, CA; Stofleth, Jerome H [Albuquerque, NM; Didlake, Jr., John E.; Wu, Benjamin C-P [San Ramon, CA

2011-11-01

A new High-Throughput Explosive Destruction System is disclosed. The new system is comprised of two side-by-side detonation containment vessels each comprising first and second halves that feed into a single agent treatment vessel. Both detonation containment vessels further comprise a surrounding ventilation facility. Moreover, the detonation containment vessels are designed to separate into two half-shells, wherein one shell can be moved axially away from the fixed, second half for ease of access and loading. The vessels are closed by means of a surrounding, clam-shell type locking seal mechanisms.

Second-Order Moller-Plesset Perturbation Theory for Molecular Dirac-Hartree-Fock Wave Functions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyall, Kenneth G.; Arnold, James O. (Technical Monitor)

1994-01-01

Moller-Plesset perturbation theory is developed to second order for a selection of Kramers restricted Dirac-Hartree-Fock closed and open-shell reference wave functions. The open-shell wave functions considered are limited to those with no more than two electrons in open shells, but include the case of a two-configuration SCF reference. Denominator shifts are included in the style of Davidson's OPT2 method. An implementation which uses unordered integrals with labels is presented, and results are given for a few test cases.

Expression of a serine protease (motopsin PRSS12) mRNA in the mouse brain: in situ hybridization histochemical study.

PubMed

Iijima, N; Tanaka, M; Mitsui, S; Yamamura, Y; Yamaguchi, N; Ibata, Y

1999-03-20

Serine proteases are considered to play several important roles in the brain. In an attempt to find novel brain-specific serine proteases (BSSPs), motopsin (PRSS-12) was cloned from a mouse brain cDNA library by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the postnatal 10-day mouse brain contained the most amount of motopsin mRNA. At this developmental stage, in situ hybridization histochemistry showed that motopsin mRNA was specifically expressed in the following regions: cerebral cortical layers II/III, V and VIb, endopiriform cortex and the limbic system, particularly in the CA1 region of the hippocampal formation. In addition, in the brainstem, the oculomotor nucleus, trochlear nucleus, mecencephalic and motor nuclei of trigeminal nerve (N), abducens nucleus, facial nucleus, nucleus of the raphe pontis, dorsoral motor nucleus of vagal N, hypoglossal nucleus and ambiguus nucleus showed motopsin mRNA expression. Expression was also found in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. The above findings strongly suggest that neurons in almost all motor nuclei, particularly in the brainstem and spinal cord, express motopsin mRNA, and that motopsin seems to have a close relation to the functional role of efferent neurons. Copyright 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

Interactions of stars and interstellar matter in Scorpio Centaurus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

De Geus, E. J.

1992-01-01

The interaction of the stars in the Scorpio-Centaurus OB association with the ambient interstellar medium is investigated. Large H I loops in the fourth galactic quadrant are parts of expanding shells surrounding the subgroups of the association. The energy output of the original stellar population of the subgroups is calculated. Comparison with the kinetic energy of the shells shows that the energy output of the stars in the subgroups is sufficient to form the shells. The masses of the shells are consistent with those of giant molecular clouds GMCs, suggesting that the shells consist of swept-up, original GMC material. The influence of the expanding shell around the young Upper-Scorpius subgroup on the morphology of the Ophiuchus molecular clouds is investigated. The interaction of the shell with the Ophiuchus clouds accounts for the presence of a slow shock and for the shape of the elongated dark clouds connected to the Rho Oph dense cloud. The close passage of the trajectory of the runaway star Zeta Oph by the center of the Upper-Scorpius shell, combined with the time scale of formation of the shell, strongly suggests that the star has originated in the Upper-Scorpius subgroup.

Magnetic dipole excitations of 50Cr

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pai, H.; Beck, T.; Beller, J.; Beyer, R.; Bhike, M.; Derya, V.; Gayer, U.; Isaak, J.; Krishichayan, Kvasil, J.; Löher, B.; Nesterenko, V. O.; Pietralla, N.; Martínez-Pinedo, G.; Mertes, L.; Ponomarev, V. Yu.; Reinhard, P.-G.; Repko, A.; Ries, P. C.; Romig, C.; Savran, D.; Schwengner, R.; Tornow, W.; Werner, V.; Wilhelmy, J.; Zilges, A.; Zweidinger, M.

2016-01-01

The low-lying M 1 strength of the open-shell nucleus 50Cr has been studied with the method of nuclear resonance fluorescence up to 9.7 MeV using bremsstrahlung at the superconducting Darmstadt linear electron accelerator S-DALINAC and Compton backscattered photons at the High Intensity γ -ray Source (HI γ S ) facility between 6 and 9.7 MeV of the initial photon energy. Fifteen 1+ states have been observed between 3.6 and 9.7 MeV. Following our analysis the lowest 1+ state at 3.6 MeV can be considered as an isovector orbital mode with some spin admixture. The obtained results generally match the estimations and trends typical for the scissors-like mode. Detailed calculations within the Skyrme quasiparticle random-phase-approximation method and the large-scale shell model justify our conclusions. The calculated distributions of the orbital current for the lowest 1+-state suggest the schematic view of Lipparini and Stringari (isovector rotation-like oscillations inside the rigid surface) rather than the scissors-like picture of Lo Iudice and Palumbo. The spin M 1 resonance is shown to be mainly generated by spin-flip transitions between the orbitals of the f p shell.

KSC-02pd0952

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - SCAPE suits are ready for worker who will use them during fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2). SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

KSC-02pd0960

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Dressed in their SCAPE suits, workers are ready for the fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2). SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

KSC-02pd0957

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers finish donning SCAPE suits for the fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2). SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

KSC-02pd0955

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers get into donning SCAPE suits for the fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2). SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

KSC-02pd0959

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Dressed in their SCAPE suits, workers are ready for the fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2). SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

KSC-02pd0953

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers begin donning SCAPE suits for the fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2). SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

KSC-02pd0958

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers finish donning SCAPE suits for the fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2). SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

KSC-02pd0956

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers finish donning SCAPE suits for the fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2). SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Excited State Trends in Bidirectionally Expanded Closed-Shell PAH and PANH Anions

PubMed Central

Moore, Megan M.; Lee, Timothy J.

2018-01-01

Some anions are known to exhibit excited states independent of external forces such as dipole moments and induced polarizabilities. Such states exist simply as a result of the stabilization of valence accepting orbitals whereby the binding energy of the extra electron is greater than the valence excitation energy. Closed-shell anions are interesting candidates for such transitions since their ground-state, spin-paired nature makes the anions more stable from the beginning. Consequently, this work shows the point beyond which deprotonated, closed-shell polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and those PAHs containing nitrogen heteroatoms (PANHs) will exhibit valence excited states. This behavior has already been demonstrated in some PANHs and for anistropically-extended PAHs. This work establishes a general trend for PAHs/PANHs of arbitrary size and directional extension, whether in one dimension or two. Once seven six-membered rings make up a PAH/PANH, valence excited states are present. For most classes of PAHs/PANHs, this number is closer to four. Even though most of these excited states are weak absorbers, the sheer number of PAHs present in various astronomical environments should make them significant contributors to astronomical spectra. PMID:27585793

The origin of the reactivity of the Criegee intermediate: implications for atmospheric particle growth

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

Miliordos, Evangelos; Xantheas, Sotiris S.

2016-01-18

The electronic structure of the simplest Criegee intermediate (H₂COO) is practically that of a closed shell. On the biradical scale (β) from 0 (pure closed shell) to 1 (pure biradical) it registers a mere β=0.10, suggesting that a Lewis structure of a H₂C=O δ+-O δ- zwitterion best describes its ground electronic state. However, this picture of a nearly inert closed shell contradicts its rich atmospheric reactivity. It is the mixing of its ground with the first triplet excited state, which is a pure biradical state of the type H₂C•-O-O•, that is responsible for the formation of strongly bound products duringmore » reactions inducing atmospheric particle growth. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle. This research also used resources of the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, which is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.« less

Search for critical point indications in long-range correlations by energy and system size scanning in string fusion approach

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

Kovalenko, V. N.; Vechernin, V. V.

2016-01-22

The ultrarelativistic collisions of heavy and light ions in the center-of-mass energy range from a few up to a hundred GeV per nucleon have been considered in string fusion approach. A Monte Carlo model of proton-proton, proton-nucleus, and nucleus-nucleus collisions has been developed, which takes into account both the string fusion and the finite rapidity length of strings, implementing the hadronic scattering through the interaction of color dipoles. It well describes the proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions at the partonic level without using Glauber model of nuclear collisions. All parameters are fixed using experimental data on inelastic cross section and multiplicity.more » In the framework of the model, we performed a beam energy and system size scan and studied the behaviour of n-n, pt-n and pt-pt long-range correlation coefficients. The detailed modeling of the event by event charged particles production allowed to provide predictions in the conditions close to the experimental ones allowing a direct comparison to the data.« less

Imaging Borrelly

USGS Publications Warehouse

Soderblom, L.A.; Boice, D.C.; Britt, D.T.; Brown, R.H.; Buratti, B.J.; Kirk, R.L.; Lee, M.; Nelson, R.M.; Oberst, J.; Sandel, B.R.; Stern, S.A.; Thomas, N.; Yelle, R.V.

2004-01-01

The nucleus, coma, and dust jets of short-period Comet 19P/Borrelly were imaged from the Deep Space 1 spacecraft during its close flyby in September 2001. A prominent jet dominated the near-nucleus coma and emanated roughly normal to the long axis of nucleus from a broad central cavity. We show it to have remained fixed in position for more than 34 hr, much longer than the 26-hr rotation period. This confirms earlier suggestions that it is co-aligned with the rotation axis. From a combination of fitting the nucleus light curve from approach images and the nucleus' orientation from stereo images at encounter, we conclude that the sense of rotation is right-handed around the main jet vector. The inferred rotation pole is approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the nucleus, consistent with a simple rotational state. Lacking an existing IAU comet-specific convention but applying a convention provisionally adopted for asteroids, we label this the north pole. This places the sub-solar latitude at ???60?? N at the time of the perihelion with the north pole in constant sunlight and thus receiving maximum average insolation. ?? 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Electronic shell structure in Ga12 icosahedra and the relation to the bulk forms of gallium.

PubMed

Schebarchov, D; Gaston, N

2012-07-28

The electronic structure of known cluster compounds with a cage-like icosahedral Ga(12) centre is studied by first-principles theoretical methods, based on density functional theory. We consider these hollow metalloid nanostructures in the context of the polymorphism of the bulk, and identify a close relation to the α phase of gallium. This previously unrecognised connection is established using the electron localisation function, which reveals the ubiquitous presence of radially-pointing covalent bonds around the Ga(12) centre--analogous to the covalent bonds between buckled deltahedral planes in α-Ga. Furthermore, we find prominent superatom shell structure in these clusters, despite their hollow icosahedral motif and the presence of covalent bonds. The exact nature of the electronic shell structure is contrasted with simple electron shell models based on jellium, and we demonstrate how the interplay between gallium dimerisation, ligand- and crystal-field effects can alter the splitting of the partially filled 1F shell. Finally, in the unique compound where the Ga(12) centre is bridged by six phosphorus ligands, the electronic structure most closely resembles that of δ-Ga and there are no well-defined superatom orbitals. The results of this comprehensive study bring new insights into the nature of chemical bonding in metalloid gallium compounds and the relation to bulk gallium metal, and they may also guide the development of more general models for ligand-protected clusters.

Domain model for Ca2(+)-inactivation of Ca2+ channels at low channel density.

PubMed Central

Sherman, A; Keizer, J; Rinzel, J

1990-01-01

The "shell" model for Ca2(+)-inactivation of Ca2+ channels is based on the accumulation of Ca2+ in a macroscopic shell beneath the plasma membrane. The shell is filled by Ca2+ entering through open channels, with the elevated Ca2+ concentration inactivating both open and closed channels at a rate determined by how fast the shell is filled. In cells with low channel density, the high concentration Ca2+ "shell" degenerates into a collection of nonoverlapping "domains" localized near open channels. These domains form rapidly when channels open and disappear rapidly when channels close. We use this idea to develop a "domain" model for Ca2(+)-inactivation of Ca2+ channels. In this model the kinetics of formation of an inactivated state resulting from Ca2+ binding to open channels determines the inactivation rate, a mechanism identical with that which explains single-channel recordings on rabbit-mesenteric artery Ca2+ channels (Huang Y., J. M. Quayle, J. F. Worley, N. B. Standen, and M. T. Nelson. 1989. Biophys. J. 56:1023-1028). We show that the model correctly predicts five important features of the whole-cell Ca2(+)-inactivation for mouse pancreatic beta-cells (Plants, T. D. 1988. J. Physiol. 404:731-747) and that Ca2(+)-inactivation has only minor effects on the bursting electrical activity of these cells. PMID:2174274

Magnetically Recoverable Pd/Fe 3O 4 Core-Shell Nanowire Clusters with Increased Hydrogenation Activity

DOE PAGES

Watt, John; Kotula, Paul G.; Huber, Dale L.

2017-02-06

Core-shell nanostructures are promising candidates for the next generation of catalysts due to synergistic effects which can arise from having two active species in close contact, leading to increased activity. Likewise, catalysts displaying added functionality, such as a magnetic response, can increase their scientific and industrial potential. Here, we synthesize Pd/Fe 3O 4 core-shell nanowire clusters and apply them as hydrogenation catalysts for an industrially important hydrogenation reaction; the conversion of acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol. During synthesis, the palladium nanowires self-assemble into clusters which act as a high surface area framework for the growth of a magnetic iron oxide shell. Wemore » demonstrate excellent catalytic activity due to the presence of palladium while the strong magnetic properties provided by the iron oxide shell enable facile catalyst recovery.« less

Exact solutions for laminated composite cylindrical shells in cylindrical bending

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yuan, F. G.

1992-01-01

Analytic elasticity solutions for laminated composite cylindrical shells under cylindrical bending are presented. The material of the shell is assumed to be general cylindrically anisotropic. Based on the theory of cylindrical anisotropic elasticity, coupled governing partial differential equations are developed. The general expressions for the stresses and displacements in the laminated composite cylinders are discussed. The closed form solutions based on Classical Shell Theory (CST) and Donnell's (1933) theory are also derived for comparison purposes. Three examples illustrate the effect of radius-to-thickness ratio, coupling and stacking sequence. The results show that, in general, CST yields poor stress and displacement distributions for thick-section composite shells, but converges to the exact elasticity solution as the radius-to-thickness ratio increases. It is also shown that Donnell's theory significantly underestimates the stress and displacement response.

Low-frequency vibrations of a cylindrical shell rotating on rollers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filippov, S. B.

2018-05-01

Small free low-frequency vibrations of a rotating closed cylindrical shell which is in a contact with rigid cylindrical rollers are considered. Assumptions of semi-momentless shell theory are used. By means of the expansion of solutions in truncated Fourier series in circumference coordinate the system of the algebraic equations for the approximate calculation of the vibration frequencies and the mode shapes is obtained. The algorithm for the evaluation of frequencies and vibration modes based on analytical solution is developed. In particular, the lowest frequencies of thin cylindrical shell, representing greatest interest for applications, were found. Approximate results are compared with results of numerical calculations carried out by the Finite Elements Analysis. It is shown that the semi-momentless theory can be used for the evaluation of the low frequencies of a cylindrical shell rotating on rollers.

On Closed Shells in Nuclei. II

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Mayer, M. G.

1949-04-01

Discussion on the use of spins and magnetic moments of the even-odd nuclei by Feenberg and Nordheim to determine the angular momentum of the eigenfunction of the odd particle; discussion of prevalence of isomerism in certain regions of the isotope chart; tabulated data on levels of square well potential, spectroscopic levels, spin term, number of states, shells and known spins and orbital assignments.

Changes in Benthos Associated with Mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) Farms on the West-Coast of Scotland

PubMed Central

Wilding, Thomas A.; Nickell, Thomas D.

2013-01-01

Aquaculture, as a means of food production, is growing rapidly in response to an increasing demand for protein and the over-exploitation of wild fisheries. This expansion includes mussels (family Mytilidae) where production currently stands at 1.5 million tonnes per annum. Mussel culture is frequently perceived as having little environmental impact yet mussel biodeposits and shell debris accumulate around the production site and are linked to changes in the benthos. To assess the extent and nature of changes in benthos associated with mussel farming grab and video sampling around seven mussel farms was conducted. Grab samples were analysed for macrofauna and shell-hash content whilst starfish were counted and the shell-hash cover estimated from video imaging. Shell-hash was patchily distributed and occasionally dominated sediments (maximum of 2116 g per 0.1 m2 grab). Mean shell-hash content decreased rapidly at distances >5 m from the line and, over the distance 1–64 m, decreased by three orders of magnitude. The presence of shell-hash and the distance-from-line influenced macrofaunal assemblages but this effect differed between sites. There was no evidence that mussel farming was associated with changes in macrobenthic diversity, species count or feeding strategy. However, total macrofaunal count was estimated to be 2.5 times higher in close proximity to the lines, compared with 64 m distance, and there was evidence that this effect was conditional on the presence of shell-hash. Starfish density varied considerably between sites but, overall, they were approximately 10 times as abundant close to the mussel-lines compared with 64 m distance. There was no evidence that starfish were more abundant in the presence of shell-hash visible on the sediment surface. In terms of farm-scale benthic impacts these data suggest that mussel farming is a relatively benign way of producing food, compared with intensive fish-farming, in similar environments. PMID:23874583

Injections of the selective adenosine A2A antagonist MSX-3 into the nucleus accumbens core attenuate the locomotor suppression induced by haloperidol in rats.

PubMed

Ishiwari, Keita; Madson, Lisa J; Farrar, Andrew M; Mingote, Susana M; Valenta, John P; DiGianvittorio, Michael D; Frank, Lauren E; Correa, Merce; Hockemeyer, Jörg; Müller, Christa; Salamone, John D

2007-03-28

There is considerable evidence of interactions between adenosine A2A receptors and dopamine D2 receptors in striatal areas, and antagonists of the A2A receptor have been shown to reverse the motor effects of DA antagonists in animal models. The D2 antagonist haloperidol produces parkinsonism in humans, and also induces motor effects in rats, such as suppression of locomotion. The present experiments were conducted to study the ability of the adenosine A2A antagonist MSX-3 to reverse the locomotor effects of acute or subchronic administration of haloperidol in rats. Systemic (i.p.) injections of MSX-3 (2.5-10.0 mg/kg) were capable of attenuating the suppression of locomotion induced by either acute or repeated (i.e., 14 day) administration of 0.5 mg/kg haloperidol. Bilateral infusions of MSX-3 directly into the nucleus accumbens core (2.5 microg or 5.0 microg in 0.5 microl per side) produced a dose-related increase in locomotor activity in rats treated with 0.5 mg/kg haloperidol either acutely or repeatedly. There were no overall significant effects of MSX-3 infused directly into the dorsomedial nucleus accumbens shell or the ventrolateral neostriatum. These results indicate that antagonism of adenosine A2A receptors can attenuate the locomotor suppression produced by DA antagonism, and that this effect may be at least partially mediated by A2A receptors in the nucleus accumbens core. These studies suggest that adenosine and dopamine systems interact to modulate the locomotor and behavioral activation functions of nucleus accumbens core.

Injections of the selective adenosine A2A antagonist MSX-3 into the nucleus accumbens core attenuate the locomotor suppression induced by haloperidol in rats

PubMed Central

Ishiwari, Keita; Madson, Lisa J.; Farrar, Andrew M.; Mingote, Susana M.; Valenta, John P.; DiGianvittorio, Michael D.; Frank, Lauren E.; Correa, Merce; Hockemeyer, Jörg; Müller, Christa; Salamone, John D.

2009-01-01

There is considerable evidence of interactions between adenosine A2A receptors and dopamine D2 receptors in striatal areas, and antagonists of the A2A receptor have been shown to reverse the motor effects of DA antagonists in animal models. The D2 antagonist haloperidol produces parkinsonism in humans, and also induces motor effects in rats, such as suppression of locomotion. The present experiments were conducted to study the ability of the adenosine A2A antagonist MSX-3 to reverse the locomotor effects of acute or subchronic administration of haloperidol in rats. Systemic (i.p.) injections of MSX-3 (2.5–10.0 mg/kg) were capable of attenuating the suppression of locomotion induced by either acute or repeated (i.e., 14 day) administration of 0.5 mg/kg haloperidol. Bilateral infusions of MSX-3 directly into the nucleus accumbens core (2.5 µg or 5.0 µg in 0.5 µl per side) produced a dose-related increase in locomotor activity in rats treated with 0.5 mg/kg haloperidol either acutely or repeatedly. There were no overall significant effects of MSX-3 infused directly into the dorsomedial nucleus accumbens shell or the ventrolateral neostriatum. These results indicate that antagonism of adenosine A2A receptors can attenuate the locomotor suppression produced by DA antagonism, and that this effect may be at least partially mediated by A2A receptors in the nucleus accumbens core. These studies suggest that adenosine and dopamine systems interact to modulate the locomotor and behavioral activation functions of nucleus accumbens core. PMID:17223207

Increase in cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) in specific areas of the mouse brain by acute caffeine administration.

PubMed

Cho, Jin Hee; Cho, Yun Ha; Kim, Hyo Young; Cha, Seung Ha; Ryu, Hyun; Jang, Wooyoung; Shin, Kyung Ho

2015-04-01

Caffeine produces a variety of behavioral effects including increased alertness, reduced food intake, anxiogenic effects, and dependence upon repeated exposure. Although many of the effects of caffeine are mediated by its ability to block adenosine receptors, it is possible that other neural substrates, such as cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), may be involved in the effects of caffeine. Indeed, a recent study demonstrated that repeated caffeine administration increases CART in the mouse striatum. However, it is not clear whether acute caffeine administration alters CART in other areas of the brain. To explore this possibility, we investigated the dose- and time-dependent changes in CART immunoreactivity (CART-IR) after a single dose of caffeine in mice. We found that a high dose of caffeine (100 mg/kg) significantly increased CART-IR 2 h after administration in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh), dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST), central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN), arcuate hypothalamic nucleus (Arc), and locus coeruleus (LC), and returned to control levels after 8 h. But this increase was not observed in other brain areas. In addition, caffeine administration at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg appears to produce dose-dependent increases in CART-IR in these brain areas; however, the magnitude of increase in CART-IR observed at a dose of 50 mg/kg was similar or greater than that observed at a dose of 100 mg/kg. This result suggests that CART-IR in AcbSh, dBNST, CeA, PVN, Arc, and LC is selectively affected by caffeine administration. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low energy dipole strength from large scale shell model calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sieja, Kamila

2017-09-01

Low energy enhancement of radiative strength functions has been deduced from experiments in several mass regions of nuclei. Such an enhancement is believed to impact the calculated neutron capture rates which are crucial input for reaction rates of astrophysical interest. Recently, shell model calculations have been performed to explain the upbend of the γ-strength as due to the M1 transitions between close-lying states in the quasi-continuum in Fe and Mo nuclei. Beyond mean-↓eld calculations in Mo suggested, however, a non-negligible role of electric dipole in the low energy enhancement. So far, no calculations of both dipole components within the same theoretical framework have been presented in this context. In this work we present newly developed large scale shell model appraoch that allows to treat on the same footing natural and non-natural parity states. The calculations are performed in a large sd - pf - gds model space, allowing for 1p{1h excitations on the top of the full pf-shell con↓guration mixing. We restrict the discussion to the magnetic part of the dipole strength, however, we calculate for the ↓rst time the magnetic dipole strength between states built of excitations going beyond the classical shell model spaces. Our results corroborate previous ↓ndings for the M1 enhancement for the natural parity states while we observe no enhancement for the 1p{1h contributions. We also discuss in more detail the e↑ects of con↓guration mixing limitations on the enhancement coming out from shell model calculations.

Effect of blonanserin on methamphetamine-induced disruption of latent inhibition and c-Fos expression in rats.

PubMed

Kuramashi, Aki; Abe, Hiroshi; Koganemaru, Go; Matsuo, Hisae; Ikeda, Tetsuya; Ebihara, Kosuke; Funahashi, Hideki; Takeda, Ryuichiro; Nishimori, Toshikazu; Ishida, Yasushi

2013-08-09

To clarify the psychopharmacological profile of blonanserin, a novel antipsychotic, we examined its effect on the methamphetamine-induced disruption of latent inhibition (LI) and the neural activation related to this effect in rats. To evaluate the LI, we used a conditioned emotional response in which a tone (conditioned stimulus) was paired with a mild foot shock (unconditioned stimulus). This paradigm was presented to rats licking water. Methamphetamine-induced (1.0mg/kg, i.p.) disruption of LI was significantly improved by the administration of a higher dose (3.0mg/kg, i.p.) of blonanserin and tended to be improved by 1.0-mg/kg blonanserin and 0.2-mg/kg haloperidol but not by a lower dose (0.3mg/kg) of blonanserin. Immunohistochemical examination showed blonanserin (3.0mg/kg, i.p.) increased c-Fos expression in the shell area but not in the core area of the nucleus accumbens while methamphetamine (3.0mg/kg, i.p.) produced the opposite expression pattern. Blonanserin also increased the number of c-Fos expressions in the central amygdala nucleus but not in the basolateral amygdala nucleus or the prefrontal cortex. Blonanserin ameliorates the methamphetamine-induced disruption of LI, as other antipsychotics do, and a neuronal activation and/or modulation of neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens is related to the disruption of LI by methamphetamine and to its amelioration by blonanserin. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The nucleus parvocellularis reticularis regulates submandibular-sublingual salivary secretion in the rat: a pharmacological study.

PubMed

Ramos, J M; Puerto, A

1988-09-01

This experiment shows that activation of the nucleus parvocellularis reticularis in the rat brainstem provokes salivary hypersecretion by the submandibular-sublingual glands. The secretory effect is mediated by cholinergic mechanisms, as the administration of atropine blocked the flow of saliva evoked by stimulation of the nucleus parvocellularis. In contrast, injection of dihydroergotamine (an alpha-blocker) and/or propranolol (a beta-blocker) failed to significantly reduce submandibular and sublingual salivary secretion when compared to a control group injected with distilled water. The cholinergic nature of the salivary response suggests that the nucleus parvocellularis reticularis exerts its secretory effect on the salivary glands parasympathetically rather than through mechanisms associated with sympathetic pathways. The area of the brainstem activated in the present study closely overlaps the region in which cell bodies of superior salivatory neurons have recently been identified with retrograde transport of peroxidase. The data presented herein represent functional proof in support of the location of the superior salivatory nucleus within the parvocellularis reticular formation.

Relativistic proton-nucleus scattering and one-boson-exchange models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maung, Khin Maung; Gross, Franz; Tjon, J. A.; Townsend, L. W.; Wallace, S. J.

1993-01-01

Relativistic p-(Ca-40) elastic scattering observables are calculated using four sets of relativistic NN amplitudes obtained from different one-boson-exchange (OBE) models. The first two sets are based upon a relativistic equation in which one particle is on mass shell and the other two sets are obtained from a quasipotential reduction of the Bethe-Salpeter equation. Results at 200, 300, and 500 MeV are presented for these amplitudes. Differences between the predictions of these models provide a study of the uncertainty in constructing Dirac optical potentials from OBE-based NN amplitudes.

The arcuate nucleus of the C57BL/6J mouse hindbrain is a displaced part of the inferior olive.

PubMed

Fu, Yu Hong; Watson, Charles

2012-01-01

The arcuate nucleus is a prominent cell group in the human hindbrain, characterized by its position on the pial surface of the pyramid. It is considered to be a precerebellar nucleus and has been implicated in the pathology of several disorders of respiration. An arcuate nucleus has not been convincingly demonstrated in other mammals, but we have found a similarly positioned nucleus in the C57BL/6J mouse. The mouse arcuate nucleus consists of a variable group of neurons lying on the pial surface of the pyramid. The nucleus is continuous with the ventrolateral part of the principal nucleus of the inferior olive and both groups are calbindin positive. At first we thought that this mouse nucleus was homologous with the human arcuate nucleus, but we have discovered that the neurons of the human nucleus are calbindin negative, and are therefore not olivary in nature. We have compared the mouse arcuate neurons with those of the inferior olive in terms of molecular markers and cerebellar projection. The neurons of the arcuate nucleus and of the inferior olive share three major characteristics: they both contain neurons utilizing glutamate, serotonin or acetylcholine as neurotransmitters; they both project to the contralateral cerebellum, and they both express a number of genes not present in the major mossy fiber issuing precerebellar nuclei. Most importantly, both cell groups express calbindin in an area of the ventral hindbrain almost completely devoid of calbindin-positive cells. We conclude that the neurons of the hindbrain mouse arcuate nucleus are a displaced part of the inferior olive, possibly separated by the caudal growth of the pyramidal tract during development. The arcuate nucleus reported in the C57BL/6J mouse can therefore be regarded as a subgroup of the rostral inferior olive, closely allied with the ventral tier of the principal nucleus. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Closing the loop of deep brain stimulation

PubMed Central

Carron, Romain; Chaillet, Antoine; Filipchuk, Anton; Pasillas-Lépine, William; Hammond, Constance

2013-01-01

High-frequency deep brain stimulation is used to treat a wide range of brain disorders, like Parkinson's disease. The stimulated networks usually share common electrophysiological signatures, including hyperactivity and/or dysrhythmia. From a clinical perspective, HFS is expected to alleviate clinical signs without generating adverse effects. Here, we consider whether the classical open-loop HFS fulfills these criteria and outline current experimental or theoretical research on the different types of closed-loop DBS that could provide better clinical outcomes. In the first part of the review, the two routes followed by HFS-evoked axonal spikes are explored. In one direction, orthodromic spikes functionally de-afferent the stimulated nucleus from its downstream target networks. In the opposite direction, antidromic spikes prevent this nucleus from being influenced by its afferent networks. As a result, the pathological synchronized activity no longer propagates from the cortical networks to the stimulated nucleus. The overall result can be described as a reversible functional de-afferentation of the stimulated nucleus from its upstream and downstream nuclei. In the second part of the review, the latest advances in closed-loop DBS are considered. Some of the proposed approaches are based on mathematical models, which emphasize different aspects of the parkinsonian basal ganglia: excessive synchronization, abnormal firing-rate rhythms, and a deficient thalamo-cortical relay. The stimulation strategies are classified depending on the control-theory techniques on which they are based: adaptive and on-demand stimulation schemes, delayed and multi-site approaches, stimulations based on proportional and/or derivative control actions, optimal control strategies. Some of these strategies have been validated experimentally, but there is still a large reservoir of theoretical work that may point to ways of improving practical treatment. PMID:24391555

Closing the loop of deep brain stimulation.

PubMed

Carron, Romain; Chaillet, Antoine; Filipchuk, Anton; Pasillas-Lépine, William; Hammond, Constance

2013-12-20

High-frequency deep brain stimulation is used to treat a wide range of brain disorders, like Parkinson's disease. The stimulated networks usually share common electrophysiological signatures, including hyperactivity and/or dysrhythmia. From a clinical perspective, HFS is expected to alleviate clinical signs without generating adverse effects. Here, we consider whether the classical open-loop HFS fulfills these criteria and outline current experimental or theoretical research on the different types of closed-loop DBS that could provide better clinical outcomes. In the first part of the review, the two routes followed by HFS-evoked axonal spikes are explored. In one direction, orthodromic spikes functionally de-afferent the stimulated nucleus from its downstream target networks. In the opposite direction, antidromic spikes prevent this nucleus from being influenced by its afferent networks. As a result, the pathological synchronized activity no longer propagates from the cortical networks to the stimulated nucleus. The overall result can be described as a reversible functional de-afferentation of the stimulated nucleus from its upstream and downstream nuclei. In the second part of the review, the latest advances in closed-loop DBS are considered. Some of the proposed approaches are based on mathematical models, which emphasize different aspects of the parkinsonian basal ganglia: excessive synchronization, abnormal firing-rate rhythms, and a deficient thalamo-cortical relay. The stimulation strategies are classified depending on the control-theory techniques on which they are based: adaptive and on-demand stimulation schemes, delayed and multi-site approaches, stimulations based on proportional and/or derivative control actions, optimal control strategies. Some of these strategies have been validated experimentally, but there is still a large reservoir of theoretical work that may point to ways of improving practical treatment.

Serotonergic systems associated with arousal and vigilance behaviors following administration of anxiogenic drugs.

PubMed

Abrams, J K; Johnson, P L; Hay-Schmidt, A; Mikkelsen, J D; Shekhar, A; Lowry, C A

2005-01-01

Serotonergic systems play important roles in modulating behavioral arousal, including behavioral arousal and vigilance associated with anxiety states. To further our understanding of the neural systems associated with increases in anxiety states, we investigated the effects of multiple anxiogenic drugs on topographically organized subpopulations of serotonergic neurons using double immunohistochemical staining for c-Fos and tryptophan hydroxylase combined with topographical analysis of the rat dorsal raphe nucleus (DR). Anxiogenic drugs with diverse pharmacological properties including the adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine, the serotonin 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist m-chlorophenyl piperazine (mCPP), the alpha2-adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine, and the benzodiazepine receptor partial inverse agonist N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide (FG-7142) induced increases in behavioral arousal and vigilance behaviors consistent with an increase in anxiety state. In addition, these anxiogenic drugs, excluding yohimbine, had convergent actions on an anatomically-defined subset of serotonergic neurons within the middle and caudal, dorsal subdivision of the DR. High resolution topographical analysis revealed that at the mid-rostrocaudal level, caffeine and FG-7142 had convergent effects on c-Fos expression in serotonergic neurons that were restricted to a previously undefined region, which we have named the shell region of the dorsal part of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRDSh), that overlaps the anatomical border between the dorsal part of the dorsal raphe nucleus, the ventral part of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRV), and the ventrolateral part of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRVL). Retrograde tracing methods revealed that DRDSh contains large numbers of neurons projecting to the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, a forebrain structure important for emotional appraisal and modulation of anxiety-related physiological and behavioral responses. Together these findings support the hypothesis that there is a functional topographical organization in the DR and are consistent with the hypothesis that anxiogenic drugs have selective actions on a subpopulation of serotonergic neurons projecting to a distributed central autonomic and emotional motor control system regulating anxiety states and anxiety-related physiological and behavioral responses.

Experiments on shells under base excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pellicano, Francesco; Barbieri, Marco; Zippo, Antonio; Strozzi, Matteo

2016-05-01

The aim of the present paper is a deep experimental investigation of the nonlinear dynamics of circular cylindrical shells. The specific problem regards the response of circular cylindrical shells subjected to base excitation. The shells are mounted on a shaking table that furnishes a vertical vibration parallel to the cylinder axis; a heavy rigid disk is mounted on the top of the shells. The base vibration induces a rigid body motion, which mainly causes huge inertia forces exerted by the top disk to the shell. In-plane stresses due to the aforementioned inertias give rise to impressively large vibration on the shell. An extremely violent dynamic phenomenon suddenly appears as the excitation frequency varies up and down close to the linear resonant frequency of the first axisymmetric mode. The dynamics are deeply investigated by varying excitation level and frequency. Moreover, in order to generalise the investigation, two different geometries are analysed. The paper furnishes a complete dynamic scenario by means of: (i) amplitude frequency diagrams, (ii) bifurcation diagrams, (iii) time histories and spectra, (iv) phase portraits and Poincaré maps. It is to be stressed that all the results presented here are experimental.

Simulations of polymorphic icosahedral shells assembling around many cargo molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohajerani, Farzaneh; Perlmutter, Jason; Hagan, Michael

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are large icosahedral shells that sequester the enzymes and reactants responsible for particular metabolic pathways in bacteria. Although different BMCs vary in size and encapsulate different cargoes, they are constructed from similar pentameric and hexameric shell proteins. Despite recent groundbreaking experiments which visualized the formation of individual BMCs, the detailed assembly pathways and the factors which control shell size remain unclear. In this talk, we describe theoretical and computational models that describe the dynamical encapsulation of hundreds of cargo molecules by self-assembling icosahedral shells. We present phase diagrams and analysis of dynamical simulation trajectories showing how the thermodynamics, assembly pathways, and emergent structures depend on the interactions among shell proteins and cargo molecules. Our model suggests a mechanism for controlling insertion of the 12 pentamers required for a closed shell topology, and the relationship between assembly pathway and BMC size polydispersity. In addition to elucidating how native BMCs assemble,our results establish principles for reengineering BMCs or viral capsids as customizable nanoreactors that can assemble around a programmable set of enzymes and reactants. Supported by NIH R01GM108021 and Brandeis MRSEC DMR-1420382.

Elastic stability of cylindrical shells with soft elastic cores: Biomimicking natural tubular structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karam, Gebran Nizar

1994-01-01

Thin walled cylindrical shell structures are widespread in nature: examples include plant stems, porcupine quills, and hedgehog spines. All have an outer shell of almost fully dense material supported by a low density, cellular core. In nature, all are loaded in combination of axial compression and bending: failure is typically by buckling. Natural structures are often optimized. Here we have analyzed the elastic buckling of a thin cylindrical shell supported by an elastic core to show that this structural configuration achieves significant weight saving over a hollow cylinder. The results of the analysis are compared with data from an extensive experimental program on uniaxial compression and four point bending tests on silicone rubber shells with and without compliant foam cores. The analysis describes the results of the mechanical tests well. Characterization of the microstructures of several natural tubular structures with foamlike cores (plant stems, quills, and spines) revealed them to be close to the optimal configurations predicted by the analytical model. Biomimicking of natural cylindrical shell structures and evolutionary design processes may offer the potential to increase the mechanical efficiency of engineering cylindrical shells.

Improving the In-Medium Similarity Renormalization Group via approximate inclusion of three-body effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morris, Titus; Bogner, Scott

2015-10-01

The In-Medium Similarity Renormalization Group (IM-SRG) has been applied successfully not only to several closed shell finite nuclei, but has recently been used to produce effective shell model interactions that are competitive with phenomenological interactions in the SD shell. A recent alternative method for solving of the IM-SRG equations, called the Magnus expansion, not only provides a computationally feasible route to producing observables, but also allows for approximate handling of induced three-body forces. Promising results for several systems, including finite nuclei, will be presented and discussed.

Electronic and Optical Properties of Core/Shell Pb16X16/Cd52X52 (X =S, Se, Te) Quantum Dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamukong, Patrick; Mayo, Michael; Kilina, Svetlana

2015-03-01

The electronic and optoelectronic properties of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are mediated by surface defects due to the presence of dangling bonds producing trap states within the HOMO-LUMO energy gap, and contributing to fluorescence quenching. Surface capping ligands are generally used to alleviate this problem and increase the quantum yields of QDs. An alternative way is to synthesize core-shell QD structures; i.e., a QD core with a shell of another semiconductor material. We have investigated the effects of Cd52X52 shells on the photoexcited dynamics of Pb16X16 (X =S, Se, Te) QDs. The thin (~ 0.50 nm) shells were found to result largely in type I core/shell structures and a blue shift of the absorption spectra. Our studies revealed fairly strong core-shell hybridization in the electronic states close to the conduction band (CB) edge for Pb16S16andPb16Se16 cores, whereas for the Pb16Te16 core, such CB states were largely shell-like in nature. Nonadiabatic DFT-based dynamics, coupled with the surface hopping method, was used to study the effects of the core and shell compositions on energy relaxation rates in these systems.

Temporal variability in shell mound formation at Albatross Bay, northern Australia

PubMed Central

Petchey, Fiona; Allely, Kasey; Shiner, Justin I.; Bailey, Geoffrey

2017-01-01

We report the results of 212 radiocarbon determinations from the archaeological excavation of 70 shell mound deposits in the Wathayn region of Albatross Bay, Australia. This is an intensive study of a closely co-located group of mounds within a geographically restricted area in a wider region where many more shell mounds have been reported. Valves from the bivalve Tegillarca granosa (Linnaeus, 1758) were dated. The dates obtained are used to calculate rates of accumulation for the shell mound deposits. These demonstrate highly variable rates of accumulation both within and between mounds. We assess these results in relation to likely mechanisms of shell deposition and show that rates of deposition are affected by time-dependent processes both during the accumulation of shell deposits and during their subsequent deformation. This complicates the interpretation of the rates at which shell mound deposits appear to have accumulated. At Wathayn, there is little temporal or spatial consistency in the rates at which mounds accumulated. Comparisons between the Wathayn results and those obtained from shell deposits elsewhere, both in the wider Albatross Bay region and worldwide, suggest the need for caution when deriving behavioural inferences from shell mound deposition rates, and the need for more comprehensive sampling of individual mounds and groups of mounds. PMID:28854234

Post-buckling of a pressured biopolymer spherical shell with the mode interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Ru, C. Q.

2018-03-01

Imperfection sensitivity is essential for mechanical behaviour of biopolymer shells characterized by high geometric heterogeneity. The present work studies initial post-buckling and imperfection sensitivity of a pressured biopolymer spherical shell based on non-axisymmetric buckling modes and associated mode interaction. Our results indicate that for biopolymer spherical shells with moderate radius-to-thickness ratio (say, less than 30) and smaller effective bending thickness (say, less than 0.2 times average shell thickness), the imperfection sensitivity predicted based on the axisymmetric mode without the mode interaction is close to the present results based on non-axisymmetric modes with the mode interaction with a small (typically, less than 10%) relative errors. However, for biopolymer spherical shells with larger effective bending thickness, the maximum load an imperfect shell can sustain predicted by the present non-axisymmetric analysis can be significantly (typically, around 30%) lower than those predicted based on the axisymmetric mode without the mode interaction. In such cases, a more accurate non-axisymmetric analysis with the mode interaction, as given in the present work, is required for imperfection sensitivity of pressured buckling of biopolymer spherical shells. Finally, the implications of the present study to two specific types of biopolymer spherical shells (viral capsids and ultrasound contrast agents) are discussed.

KSC-02pd0961

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Dressed in their SCAPE suits, workers head for the vehicle that will take them to the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2) to fuel the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft. SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

KSC-02pd0962

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The last of the workers dressed in their SCAPE suits file into the vehicle that will take them to the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2) to fuel the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft. SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

KSC-02pd0954

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers put on protective head covers, part of the SCAPE suits they will use during the fueling of the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility 2 (SAEF-2). SCAPE refers to Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. Flying as close as 60 miles (100 kilometers) to at least two comets, the spacecraft will take the sharpest pictures yet of a nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround them. CONTOUR is scheduled for launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket July 1, 2002, from Launch Complex 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Gallic acid inhibits the release of ADAMTS4 in nucleus pulposus cells by inhibiting p65 phosphorylation and acetylation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

PubMed

Huang, Yao; Chen, Jian; Jiang, Tao; Zhou, Zheng; Lv, Bin; Yin, Guoyong; Fan, Jin

2017-07-18

This study investigated the inhibitory effect of gallic acid (GA) on the release of A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs 4 (ADAMTS4) through the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which is closely related to the matrix metalloproteinases in nucleus pulposus cells. Different concentrations of GA were added to TNF-α-induced human nucleus pulposus cells (hNPCs) and intervertebral disc degeneration rat model. ADAMTS-4 expression increased both in the TNF-α-induced nucleus pulposus cells and intervertebral disc degeneration rat model. By contrast, the release of ADAMTS-4 was reduced, and the TNF-α-induced apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells was significantly inhibited after addition of GA at different concentrations. Further study found that the levels of phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) was increased and the classical NF-κB signal pathway was activated after the nucleus pulposus cells were stimulated by TNF-α. Meanwhile, GA suppressed the p65 phosphorylation and inceased p65 deacetylation levels. As a consequence, GA can decrease the expression of ADAMTS-4 in nucleus pulposus cells by regulating the phosphorylation and acetylation of p65 in NF-κB signaling pathways.

DELIVERY OF DUST GRAINS FROM COMET C/2013 A1 (SIDING SPRING) TO MARS

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

Tricarico, Pasquale; Samarasinha, Nalin H.; Sykes, Mark V.

Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) will have a close encounter with Mars on 2014 October 19. We model the dynamical evolution of dust grains from the time of their ejection from the comet nucleus to the close encounter with Mars, and determine the flux at Mars. Constraints on the ejection velocity from Hubble Space Telescope observations indicate that the bulk of the grains will likely miss Mars, although it is possible that a few percent of the grains with higher velocities will reach Mars, peaking approximately 90-100 minutes after the close approach of the nucleus, and consisting mostly of millimeter-radiusmore » grains ejected from the comet nucleus at a heliocentric distance of approximately 9 AU or larger. At higher velocities, younger grains from submillimeter to several millimeters can also reach Mars, although an even smaller fraction of grains is expected have these velocities, with negligible effect on the peak timing. Using NEOWISE observations of the comet, we can estimate that the maximum fluence will be of the order of 10{sup –7} grains m{sup –2}. We include a detailed analysis of how the expected fluence depends on the grain density, ejection velocity, and size-frequency distribution, to account for current model uncertainties and in preparation of possible refined model values in the near future.« less

Elucidation of the anatomy of a satiety network: Focus on connectivity of the parabrachial nucleus in the adult rat.

PubMed

Zséli, Györgyi; Vida, Barbara; Martinez, Anais; Lechan, Ronald M; Khan, Arshad M; Fekete, Csaba

2016-10-01

We hypothesized that brain regions showing neuronal activation after refeeding comprise major nodes in a satiety network, and tested this hypothesis with two sets of experiments. Detailed c-Fos mapping comparing fasted and refed rats was performed to identify candidate nodes of the satiety network. In addition to well-known feeding-related brain regions such as the arcuate, dorsomedial, and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei, lateral hypothalamic area, parabrachial nucleus (PB), nucleus of the solitary tract and central amygdalar nucleus, other refeeding activated regions were also identified, such as the parastrial and parasubthalamic nuclei. To begin to understand the connectivity of the satiety network, the interconnectivity of PB with other refeeding-activated neuronal groups was studied following administration of anterograde or retrograde tracers into the PB. After allowing for tracer transport time, the animals were fasted and then refed before sacrifice. Refeeding-activated neurons that project to the PB were found in the agranular insular area; bed nuclei of terminal stria; anterior hypothalamic area; arcuate, paraventricular, and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei; lateral hypothalamic area; parasubthalamic nucleus; central amygdalar nucleus; area postrema; and nucleus of the solitary tract. Axons originating from the PB were observed to closely associate with refeeding-activated neurons in the agranular insular area; bed nuclei of terminal stria; anterior hypothalamus; paraventricular, arcuate, and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei; lateral hypothalamic area; central amygdalar nucleus; parasubthalamic nucleus; ventral posterior thalamic nucleus; area postrema; and nucleus of the solitary tract. These data indicate that the PB has bidirectional connections with most refeeding-activated neuronal groups, suggesting that short-loop feedback circuits exist in this satiety network. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:2803-2827, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The hallucinogen d-lysergic acid diethylamide (d-LSD) induces the immediate-early gene c-Fos in rat forebrain.

PubMed

Frankel, Paul S; Cunningham, Kathryn A

2002-12-27

The hallucinogen d-lysergic acid diethylamide (d-LSD) evokes dramatic somatic and psychological effects. In order to analyze the neural activation induced by this unique psychoactive drug, we tested the hypothesis that expression of the immediate-early gene product c-Fos is induced in specific regions of the rat forebrain by a relatively low, behaviorally active, dose of d-LSD (0.16 mg/kg, i.p.); c-Fos protein expression was assessed at 30 min, and 1, 2 and 4 h following d-LSD injection. A time- and region-dependent expression of c-Fos was observed with a significant increase (P<0.05) in the number of c-Fos-positive cells detected in the anterior cingulate cortex at 1 h, the shell of the nucleus accumbens at 1 and 2 h, the bed nucleus of stria terminalis lateral at 2 h and the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus at 1, 2 and 4 h following systemic d-LSD administration. These data demonstrate a unique pattern of c-Fos expression in the rat forebrain following a relatively low dose of d-LSD and suggest that activation of these forebrain regions contributes to the unique behavioral effects of d-LSD. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.

Experimental evidence for 56Ni-core breaking from the low-spin structure of the N=Z nucleus 5829Cu29

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lisetskiy, A. F.; Pietralla, N.; Honma, M.; Schmidt, A.; Schneider, I.; Gade, A.; von Brentano, P.; Otsuka, T.; Mizusaki, T.; Brown, B. A.

2003-09-01

Low-spin states in the odd-odd N=Z nucleus 58Cu were investigated with the 58Ni(p,nγ)58Cu fusion evaporation reaction at the FN-TANDEM accelerator in Cologne. γγ-coincidences, γγ-angular correlations, and signs of γ-ray polarizations were measured. Seventeen low-spin states below 3.6 MeV and 17 new transitions were observed. Ten multipole mixing ratios and 17 γ-branching ratios were determined for the first time. New detailed spectroscopic information on the 2+2 state, the isobaric analogue state (IAS) of the 2+1,T=1 state of 58Ni, makes 58Cu the heaviest odd-odd N=Z nucleus with known B(E2;2+,T=1→0+,T=1) value. The 4+ state at 2.751 MeV, observed here for the first time, is identified as the IAS of the 4+1,T=1 state in 58Ni. The new data are compared to full pf-shell-model calculations with the GXPF1 residual interaction and to calculations within a pf5/2 configurational space with a residual surface δ interaction. The role of the 56Ni core excitations for the low-spin structure in 58Cu is discussed.

The γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) receptor agonist baclofen inhibits morphine sensitization by decreasing the dopamine level in rat nucleus accumbens.

PubMed

Fu, Zhenyu; Yang, Hongfa; Xiao, Yuqiang; Zhao, Gang; Huang, Haiyan

2012-07-10

Repeated morphine exposure can induce behavioral sensitization. There are evidences have shown that central gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system is involved in morphine dependence. However, the effect of a GABAB receptor agonist baclofen on morphine-induced behavioral sensitization in rats is unclear. We used morphine-induced behavioral sensitization model in rat to investigate the effects of baclofen on behavioral sensitization. Moreover, dopamine release in the shell of the nucleus accumbens was evaluated using microdialysis assay in vivo. The present study demonstrated that morphine challenge (3 mg/kg, s.c.) obviously enhanced the locomotor activity following 4-day consecutive morphine administration and 3-day withdrawal period, which indicated the expression of morphine sensitization. In addition, chronic treatment with baclofen (2.5, 5 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the development of morphine sensitization. It was also found that morphine challenge 3 days after repeated morphine administration produced a significant increase of extracellular dopamine release in nucleus accumbens. Furthermore, chronic treatment with baclofen decreased the dopamine release induced by morphine challenge. Our results indicated that gamma-aminobutyric acid system plays an important role in the morphine sensitization in rat and suggested that behavioral sensitization is a promising model to study the mechanism underlying drug abuse.

Current advances in precious metal core-shell catalyst design.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaohong; He, Beibei; Hu, Zhiyu; Zeng, Zhigang; Han, Sheng

2014-08-01

Precious metal nanoparticles are commonly used as the main active components of various catalysts. Given their high cost, limited quantity, and easy loss of catalytic activity under severe conditions, precious metals should be used in catalysts at low volumes and be protected from damaging environments. Accordingly, reducing the amount of precious metals without compromising their catalytic performance is difficult, particularly under challenging conditions. As multifunctional materials, core-shell nanoparticles are highly important owing to their wide range of applications in chemistry, physics, biology, and environmental areas. Compared with their single-component counterparts and other composites, core-shell nanoparticles offer a new active interface and a potential synergistic effect between the core and shell, making these materials highly attractive in catalytic application. On one hand, when a precious metal is used as the shell material, the catalytic activity can be greatly improved because of the increased surface area and the closed interfacial interaction between the core and the shell. On the other hand, when a precious metal is applied as the core material, the catalytic stability can be remarkably improved because of the protection conferred by the shell material. Therefore, a reasonable design of the core-shell catalyst for target applications must be developed. We summarize the latest advances in the fabrications, properties, and applications of core-shell nanoparticles in this paper. The current research trends of these core-shell catalysts are also highlighted.

Variation in Orthologous Shell-Forming Proteins Contribute to Molluscan Shell Diversity

PubMed Central

Jackson, Daniel J.; Reim, Laurin; Randow, Clemens; Cerveau, Nicolas; Degnan, Bernard M.; Fleck, Claudia

2017-01-01

Abstract Despite the evolutionary success and ancient heritage of the molluscan shell, little is known about the molecular details of its formation, evolutionary origins, or the interactions between the material properties of the shell and its organic constituents. In contrast to this dearth of information, a growing collection of molluscan shell-forming proteomes and transcriptomes suggest they are comprised of both deeply conserved, and lineage specific elements. Analyses of these sequence data sets have suggested that mechanisms such as exon shuffling, gene co-option, and gene family expansion facilitated the rapid evolution of shell-forming proteomes and supported the diversification of this phylum specific structure. In order to further investigate and test these ideas we have examined the molecular features and spatial expression patterns of two shell-forming genes (Lustrin and ML1A2) and coupled these observations with materials properties measurements of shells from a group of closely related gastropods (abalone). We find that the prominent “GS” domain of Lustrin, a domain believed to confer elastomeric properties to the shell, varies significantly in length between the species we investigated. Furthermore, the spatial expression patterns of Lustrin and ML1A2 also vary significantly between species, suggesting that both protein architecture, and the regulation of spatial gene expression patterns, are important drivers of molluscan shell evolution. Variation in these molecular features might relate to certain materials properties of the shells of these species. These insights reveal an important and underappreciated source of variation within shell-forming proteomes that must contribute to the diversity of molluscan shell phenotypes. PMID:28961798

Ipsilateral feeding-specific circuits between the nucleus accumbens shell and the lateral hypothalamus: regulation by glutamate and GABA receptor subtypes.

PubMed

Urstadt, Kevin R; Kally, Peter; Zaidi, Sana F; Stanley, B Glenn

2013-04-01

The nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) and the lateral hypothalamus (LH) are both involved in the control of food intake. Activation of GABA(A) receptors or blockade of AMPA and kainate receptors within the AcbSh induces feeding, as does blockade of GABA(A) receptors or activation of NMDA receptors in the LH. Further, evidence suggests that feeding induced via the AcbSh can be suppressed by LH inhibition. However, it is unclear if this suppression is specific to feeding. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with 3 intracranial guide cannulas, one unilaterally into the AcbSh and two bilaterally into the LH, were used to explore this issue. DNQX (1.25 μg) or muscimol (100 ng) infused into the AcbSh unilaterally elicited feeding, and this elicited intake was suppressed by bilateral LH injection of d-AP5 (2 μg) or muscimol (25 ng). The effectiveness of d-AP5 or muscimol infusion into either the LH site ipsilateral or contralateral to the AcbSh injection was compared. Ipsilateral LH injection of d-AP5 or muscimol was significantly more effective than contralateral injection in suppressing food intake initiated by AcbSh injection of DNQX or muscimol. These results add to the prior evidence that inhibition of the LH through pharmacological modulation of NMDA or GABA(A) receptors specifically suppresses feeding initiated by AcbSh inhibition, and that these two regions communicate via an ipsilateral circuit to specifically regulate feeding. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Sleep-Promoting and Hypothermic Effects of Glycine are Mediated by NMDA Receptors in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

PubMed Central

Kawai, Nobuhiro; Sakai, Noriaki; Okuro, Masashi; Karakawa, Sachie; Tsuneyoshi, Yosuke; Kawasaki, Noriko; Takeda, Tomoko; Bannai, Makoto; Nishino, Seiji

2015-01-01

The use of glycine as a therapeutic option for improving sleep quality is a novel and safe approach. However, despite clinical evidence of its efficacy, the details of its mechanism remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the site of action and sleep-promoting mechanisms of glycine in rats. In acute sleep disturbance, oral administration of glycine-induced non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and shortened NREM sleep latency with a simultaneous decrease in core temperature. Oral and intracerebroventricular injection of glycine elevated cutaneous blood flow (CBF) at the plantar surface in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in heat loss. Pretreatment with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists AP5 and CGP78608 but not the glycine receptor antagonist strychnine inhibited the CBF increase caused by glycine injection into the brain. Induction of c-Fos expression was observed in the hypothalamic nuclei, including the medial preoptic area (MPO) and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) shell after glycine administration. Bilateral microinjection of glycine into the SCN elevated CBF in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no effect was observed when glycine was injected into the MPO and dorsal subparaventricular zone. In addition, microinjection of D-serine into the SCN also increased CBF, whereas these effects were blocked in the presence of L-701324. SCN ablation completely abolished the sleep-promoting and hypothermic effects of glycine. These data suggest that exogenous glycine promotes sleep via peripheral vasodilatation through the activation of NMDA receptors in the SCN shell. PMID:25533534

Resistance exercise decreases heroin self-administration and alters gene expression in the nucleus accumbens of heroin-exposed rats.

PubMed

Smith, Mark A; Fronk, Gaylen E; Abel, Jean M; Lacy, Ryan T; Bills, Sarah E; Lynch, Wendy J

2018-04-01

Preclinical studies consistently report that aerobic exercise decreases drug self-administration and other forms of drug-seeking behavior; however, relatively few studies have examined other types of physical activity. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of resistance exercise (i.e., strength training) on heroin self-administration and mRNA expression of genes known to mediate opioid reinforcement and addictive behavior in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of heroin-exposed rats. Female rats were obtained during late adolescence and divided into two groups. Resistance exercise rats were trained to climb a vertical ladder wearing a weighted vest; sedentary control rats were placed repeatedly on the ladder oriented horizontally on its side. All rats were implanted with intravenous catheters and trained to self-administer heroin on a fixed ratio (FR1) schedule of reinforcement. mRNA expression in the NAc core and shell was examined following behavioral testing. Resistance exercise significantly decreased heroin self-administration, resulting in a downward shift in the dose-effect curve. Resistance exercise also reduced mRNA expression for mu opioid receptors and dopamine D1, D2, and D3 receptors in the NAc core. Resistance exercise increased mRNA expression of dopamine D5 receptors in the NAc shell and increased mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (exons I, IIB, IIC, IV, VI, IX) in the NAc core. These data indicate that resistance exercise decreases the positive reinforcing effects of heroin and produces changes in opioid and dopamine systems in the NAc of heroin-exposed rats.

Region-specific role of Rac in nucleus accumbens core and basolateral amygdala in consolidation and reconsolidation of cocaine-associated cue memory in rats.

PubMed

Ding, Zeng-Bo; Wu, Ping; Luo, Yi-Xiao; Shi, Hai-Shui; Shen, Hao-Wei; Wang, Shen-Jun; Lu, Lin

2013-08-01

Drug reinforcement and the reinstatement of drug seeking are associated with the pathological processing of drug-associated cue memories that can be disrupted by manipulating memory consolidation and reconsolidation. Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (Rac) is involved in memory processing by regulating actin dynamics and neural structure plasticity. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) and amygdala have been implicated in the consolidation and reconsolidation of emotional memories. Therefore, we hypothesized that Rac in the NAc and amygdala plays a role in the consolidation and reconsolidation of cocaine-associated cue memory. Conditioned place preference (CPP) and microinjection of Rac inhibitor NSC23766 were used to determine the role of Rac in the NAc and amygdala in the consolidation and reconsolidation of cocaine-associated cue memory in rats. Microinjections of NSC23766 into the NAc core but not shell, basolateral (BLA), or central amygdala (CeA) after each cocaine-conditioning session inhibited the consolidation of cocaine-induced CPP. A microinjection of NSC23766 into the BLA but not CeA, NAc core, or NAc shell immediately after memory reactivation induced by exposure to a previously cocaine-paired context disrupted the reconsolidation of cocaine-induced CPP. The effect of memory disruption on cocaine reconsolidation was specific to reactivated memory, persisted at least 2 weeks, and was not reinstated by a cocaine-priming injection. Our findings indicate that Rac in the NAc core and BLA are required for the consolidation and reconsolidation of cocaine-associated cue memory, respectively.

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

Eriksen, Janus J., E-mail: janusje@chem.au.dk; Jørgensen, Poul; Matthews, Devin A.

The accuracy at which total energies of open-shell atoms and organic radicals may be calculated is assessed for selected coupled cluster perturbative triples expansions, all of which augment the coupled cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) energy by a non-iterative correction for the effect of triple excitations. Namely, the second- through sixth-order models of the recently proposed CCSD(T–n) triples series [J. J. Eriksen et al., J. Chem. Phys. 140, 064108 (2014)] are compared to the acclaimed CCSD(T) model for both unrestricted as well as restricted open-shell Hartree-Fock (UHF/ROHF) reference determinants. By comparing UHF- and ROHF-based statistical results for a test setmore » of 18 modest-sized open-shell species with comparable RHF-based results, no behavioral differences are observed for the higher-order models of the CCSD(T–n) series in their correlated descriptions of closed- and open-shell species. In particular, we find that the convergence rate throughout the series towards the coupled cluster singles, doubles, and triples (CCSDT) solution is identical for the two cases. For the CCSD(T) model, on the other hand, not only its numerical consistency, but also its established, yet fortuitous cancellation of errors breaks down in the transition from closed- to open-shell systems. The higher-order CCSD(T–n) models (orders n > 3) thus offer a consistent and significant improvement in accuracy relative to CCSDT over the CCSD(T) model, equally for RHF, UHF, and ROHF reference determinants, albeit at an increased computational cost.« less

Shell structure and distribution of Cloudina, a potential index fossil for the terminal Proterozoic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, S. W.; Knoll, A. H. (Principal Investigator)

1990-01-01

Cloudina-bearing biosparites and biomicrites in the lower part of the Nama Group, Namibia, contain a wide morphological diversity of shell fragments that can all be attributed to the two named species C. hartmannae and C. riemkeae. The curved to sinuous tubular shells of Cloudina were multi-layered. Each shell layer was 8 to 50 micrometers thick and in the form of a slightly flaring tube with one end open and the other closed. Growth appears to have been periodic with successive shell layers forming within older layers. Each added layer was slightly elevated from the previous layer at the proximal end and was asymmetrically placed within the older layer so that only a portion of the new shell layer was fused to the previous layer. This type of growth left a relatively large unminerialized area between the shell layers which was often partially or fully occluded by early marine cements. The thin shell layers exhibit both plastic and brittle deformation and were likely formed of a rigid CaCO3-impregnated organic-rich material. Often the shell layers are preferentially dolomitized suggesting an original mineralogy of high-magnesian calcite. Both species in the Nama Group formed thickets, or perhaps bioherms, and this sedentary and gregarious habit suggests that Cloudina was probably a filter-feeding metazoan of at least a cnidarian grade of organization. The unusual shell structure of Cloudina gives rise to a characteristic suite of taphonomic and diagenetic features that can be used to identify Cloudina-bearing deposits within the Nama Group and in other terminal Proterozoic deposits around the world. Species of Cloudina occur in limestones from Brazil, Spain, China, and Oman in sequences consistent with a latest Proterozoic age assignment. In addition, supposed lower Cambrian, pre-trilobitic, shelly fossils from northwest Mexico and the White-Inyo Mountains in California and Nevada, including Sinotubulites, Nevadatubulus, and Wyattia, are all either closely related to or con-generic with Cloudina. Hence, it is probable that these outcrops are latest Proterozoic in age, and that Cloudina or Cloudina-like organisms were widely distributed at that time. It is possible, moreover, to suggest that metazoan biomineralization occurred on a global scale by the latest Proterozoic, at the same time that evidence for complex multicellularity and locomotion in animals appears in siliciclastic "Ediacaran" rocks in the form of body and trace fossils.

Functional network inference of the suprachiasmatic nucleus

PubMed Central

Abel, John H.; Meeker, Kirsten; Granados-Fuentes, Daniel; St. John, Peter C.; Wang, Thomas J.; Bales, Benjamin B.; Doyle, Francis J.; Herzog, Erik D.; Petzold, Linda R.

2016-01-01

In the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), noisy cellular oscillators communicate within a neuronal network to generate precise system-wide circadian rhythms. Although the intracellular genetic oscillator and intercellular biochemical coupling mechanisms have been examined previously, the network topology driving synchronization of the SCN has not been elucidated. This network has been particularly challenging to probe, due to its oscillatory components and slow coupling timescale. In this work, we investigated the SCN network at a single-cell resolution through a chemically induced desynchronization. We then inferred functional connections in the SCN by applying the maximal information coefficient statistic to bioluminescence reporter data from individual neurons while they resynchronized their circadian cycling. Our results demonstrate that the functional network of circadian cells associated with resynchronization has small-world characteristics, with a node degree distribution that is exponential. We show that hubs of this small-world network are preferentially located in the central SCN, with sparsely connected shells surrounding these cores. Finally, we used two computational models of circadian neurons to validate our predictions of network structure. PMID:27044085

Analysis of the energy of the first four excited states of the ground-state rotational bands of the even-even nuclei from 6C8 to 56Ba90 with the model of a single cluster of nucleons revolving about a sphere.

PubMed Central

Pauling, L

1991-01-01

The results of the analysis of the first four energy levels of the ground-state rotational bands of even-even nuclei from 6C8 to 56Ba90 on the basis of the revolving-cluster model are reported. Values of the nucleon number of the revolving cluster are assigned on the basis in part of the shell model and in part of the expectation that the corresponding values of the radius of revolution would change only slightly from one energy level to an adjacent level or from one nucleus to an adjacent nucleus. The values of the radius of revolution are found to change gradually from about 5 to 6 fm for the lighter nuclei to 7 to 8 fm for the heavier nuclei in the sequence studied. PMID:11607232

Measurement of key resonances for the 24Al(p ,γ )25Si reaction rate using in-beam γ -ray spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longfellow, B.; Gade, A.; Brown, B. A.; Richter, W. A.; Bazin, D.; Bender, P. C.; Bowry, M.; Elman, B.; Lunderberg, E.; Weisshaar, D.; Williams, S. J.

2018-05-01

Energy levels and branching ratios for the rp-process nucleus 25Si were determined from the reactions 9Be(26Si,25Si)X and 9Be(25Al,25Si)X using in-beam γ -ray spectroscopy with both high-efficiency and high-resolution detector arrays. Proton-unbound states at 3695(14) and 3802(11) keV were identified and assigned tentative spins and parities based on comparison to theory and the mirror nucleus. The 24Al(p ,γ )25Si reaction rate was calculated using the experimental states and states from charge-dependent USDA and USDB shell-model calculations with downward shifts of the 1 s1 /2 proton orbital to account for the observed Thomas-Ehrman shift, leading to a factor of 10-100 increase in rate for the temperature region of 0.22 GK as compared to a previous calculation. These shifts may be applicable to neighboring nuclei, impacting the proton capture rates in this region of the chart.

Chromatin and lamin A determine two different mechanical response regimes of the cell nucleus

PubMed Central

Stephens, Andrew D.; Banigan, Edward J.; Adam, Stephen A.; Goldman, Robert D.; Marko, John F.

2017-01-01

The cell nucleus must continually resist and respond to intercellular and intracellular mechanical forces to transduce mechanical signals and maintain proper genome organization and expression. Altered nuclear mechanics is associated with many human diseases, including heart disease, progeria, and cancer. Chromatin and nuclear envelope A-type lamin proteins are known to be key nuclear mechanical components perturbed in these diseases, but their distinct mechanical contributions are not known. Here we directly establish the separate roles of chromatin and lamin A/C and show that they determine two distinct mechanical regimes via micromanipulation of single isolated nuclei. Chromatin governs response to small extensions (<3 μm), and euchromatin/heterochromatin levels modulate the stiffness. In contrast, lamin A/C levels control nuclear strain stiffening at large extensions. These results can be understood through simulations of a polymeric shell and cross-linked polymer interior. Our results provide a framework for understanding the differential effects of chromatin and lamin A/C in cell nuclear mechanics and their alterations in disease. PMID:28057760

The stabilities and electron structures of Al-Mg clusters with 18 and 20 valence electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Huihui; Chen, Hongshan

2017-07-01

The spherical jellium model predicts that metal clusters having 18 and 20 valence electrons correspond to the magic numbers and will show specific stabilities. We explore in detail the geometric structures, stabilities and electronic structures of Al-Mg clusters containing 18 and 20 valence electrons by using genetic algorithm combined with density functional theories. The stabilities of the clusters are governed by the electronic configurations and Mg/Al ratios. The clusters with lower Mg/Al ratios are more stable. The molecular orbitals accord with the shell structures predicted by the jellium model but the 2S level interweaves with the 1D levels and the 2S and 1D orbitals form a subgroup. The clusters having 20 valence electrons form closed 1S21P61D102S2 shells and show enhanced stability. The Al-Mg clusters with a valence electron count of 18 do not form closed shells because one 1D orbital is unoccupied. The ionization potential and electron affinity are closely related to the electronic configurations; their values are determined by the subgroups the HOMO or LUMO belong to. Supplementary material in the form of one pdf file available from the Journal web page at http://https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2017-80042-9

Hard sphere packings within cylinders.

PubMed

Fu, Lin; Steinhardt, William; Zhao, Hao; Socolar, Joshua E S; Charbonneau, Patrick

2016-03-07

Arrangements of identical hard spheres confined to a cylinder with hard walls have been used to model experimental systems, such as fullerenes in nanotubes and colloidal wire assembly. Finding the densest configurations, called close packings, of hard spheres of diameter σ in a cylinder of diameter D is a purely geometric problem that grows increasingly complex as D/σ increases, and little is thus known about the regime for D > 2.873σ. In this work, we extend the identification of close packings up to D = 4.00σ by adapting Torquato-Jiao's adaptive-shrinking-cell formulation and sequential-linear-programming (SLP) technique. We identify 17 new structures, almost all of them chiral. Beyond D ≈ 2.85σ, most of the structures consist of an outer shell and an inner core that compete for being close packed. In some cases, the shell adopts its own maximum density configuration, and the stacking of core spheres within it is quasiperiodic. In other cases, an interplay between the two components is observed, which may result in simple periodic structures. In yet other cases, the very distinction between the core and shell vanishes, resulting in more exotic packing geometries, including some that are three-dimensional extensions of structures obtained from packing hard disks in a circle.

Role of a large marine protected area for conserving landscape attributes of sand habitats on Georges Bank (NW Atlantic)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lindholm, J.; Auster, P.; Valentine, P.

2004-01-01

Mobile fishing gear reduces seafloor habitat complexity through the removal of structure-building fauna, e.g. emergent organisms that create pits and burrows, as well as by smoothing of sedimentary bedforms (e.g. sand ripples). In this study, we compared the relative abundance of microhabitat features (the scale at which individual fish associate with seafloor habitat) inside and outside of a large fishery closed area (6917 km2) on Georges Bank. Starting in late 1994, the closed area excluded all bottom tending fishing gear capable of capturing demersal fishes. A total of 32 stations were selected inside and outside of the closed area in sand habitats. Video and still photographic transects were conducted at each station using the Seabed Observation and Sampling System (SEABOSS). Seven common (i.e. featureless sand, rippled sand, sand with emergent fauna, bare gravelly sand, gravelly sand with attached-erect fauna, whole shell, shell fragment) and 2 rare (sponges, biogenic depressions) microhabitat types were compared separately. Results showed significant differences in the relative abundance of the shell fragment and sponge microhabitat types between fished and unfished areas. The lack of differences for the other microhabitats may indicate that the level of fishing activity in the area is matched by the system's ability to recover.

Efficient and accurate local single reference correlation methods for high-spin open-shell molecules using pair natural orbitals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, Andreas; Liakos, Dimitrios G.; Neese, Frank

2011-12-01

A production level implementation of the high-spin open-shell (spin unrestricted) single reference coupled pair, quadratic configuration interaction and coupled cluster methods with up to doubly excited determinants in the framework of the local pair natural orbital (LPNO) concept is reported. This work is an extension of the closed-shell LPNO methods developed earlier [F. Neese, F. Wennmohs, and A. Hansen, J. Chem. Phys. 130, 114108 (2009), 10.1063/1.3086717; F. Neese, A. Hansen, and D. G. Liakos, J. Chem. Phys. 131, 064103 (2009), 10.1063/1.3173827]. The internal space is spanned by localized orbitals, while the external space for each electron pair is represented by a truncated PNO expansion. The laborious integral transformation associated with the large number of PNOs becomes feasible through the extensive use of density fitting (resolution of the identity (RI)) techniques. Technical complications arising for the open-shell case and the use of quasi-restricted orbitals for the construction of the reference determinant are discussed in detail. As in the closed-shell case, only three cutoff parameters control the average number of PNOs per electron pair, the size of the significant pair list, and the number of contributing auxiliary basis functions per PNO. The chosen threshold default values ensure robustness and the results of the parent canonical methods are reproduced to high accuracy. Comprehensive numerical tests on absolute and relative energies as well as timings consistently show that the outstanding performance of the LPNO methods carries over to the open-shell case with minor modifications. Finally, hyperfine couplings calculated with the variational LPNO-CEPA/1 method, for which a well-defined expectation value type density exists, indicate the great potential of the LPNO approach for the efficient calculation of molecular properties.

HF in clusters of molecular hydrogen. I. Size evolution of quantum solvation by parahydrogen molecules.

PubMed

Jiang, Hao; Bacić, Zlatko

2005-06-22

We present a theoretical study of the quantum solvation of the HF molecule by a small number of parahydrogen molecules, having n = 1-13 solvent particles. The minimum-energy cluster structures determined for n = 1-12 have all of the H(2) molecules in the first solvent shell. The first solvent shell closes at n = 12 and its geometry is icosahedral, with the HF molecule at the center. The quantum-mechanical ground-state properties of the clusters are calculated exactly using the diffusion Monte Carlo method. The zero-point energy of (p-H(2))(n)HF clusters is unusually large, amounting to 86% of the potential well depth for n > 7. The radial probability distribution functions (PDFs) confirm that the first solvent shell is complete for n = 12, and that the 13th p-H(2) molecule begins to fill the second solvent shell. The p-H(2) molecules execute large-amplitude motions and are highly mobile, making the solvent cage exceptionally fluxional. The anisotropy of the solvent, very pronounced for small clusters, decreases rapidly with increasing n, so that for n approximately 8-9 the solvent environment is practically isotropic. The analysis of the pair angular PDF reveals that for a given n, the parahydrogen solvent density around the HF is modulated in a pattern which clearly reflects the lowest-energy cluster configuration. The rigidity of the solvent clusters displays an interesting size dependence, increasing from n = 6 to 9, becoming floppier for n = 10, and increasing again up to n = 12, as the solvent shell is filled. The rigidity of the solvent cage appears to reach its maximum for n = 12, the point at which the first solvent shell is closed.

Linking surface morphology, composition and activity on the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko’s nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fornasier, Sonia; Hoang, Van Hong; Hasselmann, Pedro H.; Barucci, Maria Antonieta; Feller, Clement; Prasanna Deshapriya, Jasinghege Don; Keller, Horst Uwe; OSIRIS Team

2017-10-01

The Rosetta mission orbited around the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for more than 2 years, getting an incredible amount of unique data of the comet nucleus and inner coma. This has enabled us to study its activity continuously from 4 AU inbound to 3.6 AU outbound, including the perihelion passage at 1.25 AU.This work focuses on the identification of the regions sources of faint jets and outbursts, and on the study of their spectrophotometric properties, from observations acquired with the OSIRIS/NAC camera during the July-October 2015 period, i.e. close to perihelion. More than 150 jets of different intensities were identified directly on the nucleus from NAC color sequences acquired in 7-11 filters covering the 250-1000 nm wavelength range, and their spectrophotometric properties studied for the first time. Some spectacular outbursts appear dominated by water ice particles, while fainter jets often show colors redder than the nucleus and appear dominated by dusty particles. Some jets are very faint and were identified on the nucleus thanks to the unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution of the ROSETTA/OSIRIS observations. Some of them have an extremely short lifetime, appearing on the cometary surface during the color sequence observations, reaching their peak in flux and then vanishing in less than a couple of minutes.We will present the results on the location, duration, and colors of active sources on the 67P nucleus from the relatively low resolution (i.e. 6-10 m/pixel) images acquired close to the perihelion passage. Some of this active regions were observed and investigated in higher resolution (up to few dm per pixel) during other phases of the mission. These observations allow us to study the morphological and spectral evolution of the regions found to be active and to further investigate the link between morphology, composition, and activity on cometary nuclei.

Misfit stresses in a composite core-shell nanowire with an eccentric parallelepipedal core subjected to one-dimensional cross dilatation eigenstrain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krasnitckii, S. A.; Kolomoetc, D. R.; Smirnov, A. M.; Gutkin, M. Yu

2017-05-01

The boundary-value problem in the classical theory of elasticity for a core-shell nanowire with an eccentric parallelepipedal core of an arbitrary rectangular cross section is solved. The core is subjected to one-dimensional cross dilatation eigenstrain. The misfit stresses are given in a closed analytical form suitable for theoretical modeling of misfit accommodation in relevant heterostructures.

Study of clusters using negative ion photodetachment spectroscopy

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

Zhao, Yuexing

1995-12-01

The weak van der Waals interaction between an open-shell halogen atom and a closed-shell atom or molecule has been investigated using zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy. This technique is also applied to study the low-lying electronic states in GaAs and GaAs -. In addition, the spectroscopy and electron detachment dynamics of several small carbon cluster anions are studied using resonant multiphoton detachment spectroscopy.

The equivalence of Darmois-Israel and distributional method for thin shells in general relativity

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

Mansouri, R.; Khorrami, M.

1996-11-01

A distributional method to solve the Einstein{close_quote}s field equations for thin shells is formulated. The familiar field equations and jump conditions of Darmois-Israel formalism are derived. A careful analysis of the Bianchi identities shows that, for cases under consideration, they make sense as distributions and lead to jump conditions of Darmois-Israel formalism. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

Resonant Vibrations and Vibrational Heating of Physically Nonlinear Viscoelastic Shells and Their Damping Using Piezoelectric Sensor and Actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirichok, I. F.

2017-09-01

Forced axisymmetric resonant vibrations and vibrational heating of viscoelastic, physically nonlinear, closed, spherical, and infinitely long cylindrical shells and ring with piezoelectric sensor and actuator are considered. The effect of physical nonlinearity of passive material on the vibration amplitude and vibrational heating temperature is studied. The possibility of active damping of vibrations by piezoelectric sensors and actuators is demonstrated.

Valve assembly for use with high temperature and high pressure fluids

DOEpatents

De Feo, Angelo

1982-01-01

The valve assembly for use with high temperature and high pressure fluids has inner and outer spaced shells and a valve actuator support of inner and outer spaced members which are connected at their end portions to the inner and outer shells, respectively, to extend substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the inner shell. A layer of resilient heat insulating material covers the outer surfaces of the inner shell and the inner actuator support member and is of a thickness to only occupy part of the spaces between the inner and outer shells and inner and outer actuator support members. The remaining portion of the space between the inner and outer shells and the space between the inner and outer members is substantially filled with a body of castable, rigid refractory material. A movable valve member is disposed in the inner shell. A valve actuator assembly is supported in the valve actuator support to extend into the inner shell for connection with the movable valve member for movement of the movable valve member to positions from a fully open to a fully closed position to control flow of fluid through the inner shell. An anchor mneans is disposed adjacent opposite sides of the axis of the valve actuator support and attached to the inner shell so that relative radial movement between the inner and outer shell is permitted by the layer of resilient heat insulating material and relative longitudinal movement of the inner shell to the outer shell is permitted in opposite directions from the anchor means to thereby maintain the functional integrity of the movable valve member by providing an area of the inner shell surrounding the movable valve member longitdinally stationary, but at the same time allowing radial movement.

Dissolution Dominating Calcification Process in Polar Pteropods Close to the Point of Aragonite Undersaturation

PubMed Central

Bednaršek, Nina; Tarling, Geraint A.; Bakker, Dorothee C. E.; Fielding, Sophie; Feely, Richard A.

2014-01-01

Thecosome pteropods are abundant upper-ocean zooplankton that build aragonite shells. Ocean acidification results in the lowering of aragonite saturation levels in the surface layers, and several incubation studies have shown that rates of calcification in these organisms decrease as a result. This study provides a weight-specific net calcification rate function for thecosome pteropods that includes both rates of dissolution and calcification over a range of plausible future aragonite saturation states (Ωar). We measured gross dissolution in the pteropod Limacina helicina antarctica in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean) by incubating living specimens across a range of aragonite saturation states for a maximum of 14 days. Specimens started dissolving almost immediately upon exposure to undersaturated conditions (Ωar∼0.8), losing 1.4% of shell mass per day. The observed rate of gross dissolution was different from that predicted by rate law kinetics of aragonite dissolution, in being higher at Ωar levels slightly above 1 and lower at Ωar levels of between 1 and 0.8. This indicates that shell mass is affected by even transitional levels of saturation, but there is, nevertheless, some partial means of protection for shells when in undersaturated conditions. A function for gross dissolution against Ωar derived from the present observations was compared to a function for gross calcification derived by a different study, and showed that dissolution became the dominating process even at Ωar levels close to 1, with net shell growth ceasing at an Ωar of 1.03. Gross dissolution increasingly dominated net change in shell mass as saturation levels decreased below 1. As well as influencing their viability, such dissolution of pteropod shells in the surface layers will result in slower sinking velocities and decreased carbon and carbonate fluxes to the deep ocean. PMID:25285916

Dissolution dominating calcification process in polar pteropods close to the point of aragonite undersaturation.

PubMed

Bednaršek, Nina; Tarling, Geraint A; Bakker, Dorothee C E; Fielding, Sophie; Feely, Richard A

2014-01-01

Thecosome pteropods are abundant upper-ocean zooplankton that build aragonite shells. Ocean acidification results in the lowering of aragonite saturation levels in the surface layers, and several incubation studies have shown that rates of calcification in these organisms decrease as a result. This study provides a weight-specific net calcification rate function for thecosome pteropods that includes both rates of dissolution and calcification over a range of plausible future aragonite saturation states (Ω(ar)). We measured gross dissolution in the pteropod Limacina helicina antarctica in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean) by incubating living specimens across a range of aragonite saturation states for a maximum of 14 days. Specimens started dissolving almost immediately upon exposure to undersaturated conditions (Ω(ar) ∼ 0.8), losing 1.4% of shell mass per day. The observed rate of gross dissolution was different from that predicted by rate law kinetics of aragonite dissolution, in being higher at Ω(ar) levels slightly above 1 and lower at Ω(ar) levels of between 1 and 0.8. This indicates that shell mass is affected by even transitional levels of saturation, but there is, nevertheless, some partial means of protection for shells when in undersaturated conditions. A function for gross dissolution against Ω(ar) derived from the present observations was compared to a function for gross calcification derived by a different study, and showed that dissolution became the dominating process even at Ω(ar) levels close to 1, with net shell growth ceasing at an Ω(ar) of 1.03. Gross dissolution increasingly dominated net change in shell mass as saturation levels decreased below 1. As well as influencing their viability, such dissolution of pteropod shells in the surface layers will result in slower sinking velocities and decreased carbon and carbonate fluxes to the deep ocean.

Observation of the particle-unstable nucleus 10N

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lépine-Szily, A.; Oliveira, J. M.; Vanin, V. R.; Ostrowski, A. N.; Lichtenthäler, R.; di Pietro, A.; Guimarães, V.; Laird, A. M.; Maunoury, L.; Lima, G. F.; de Oliveira Santos, F.; Roussel-Chomaz, P.; Savajols, H.; Trinder, W.; Villari, A. C.; de Vismes, A.

2002-05-01

For the first time evidence of the ground state of the proton-rich, unbound nucleus 10N has been found in the multinucleon transfer reaction 10B(14N,14B)10N. The observed resonance of 10N has a mass excess of 38.8(4) MeV and a width of Γ=2.3(16) MeV, close to the Audi-Wapstra estimation of 38.5(4) MeV. 10N is the last missing A=10 multiplet partner.

The nervus terminalis in larval and adult Xenopus laevis.

PubMed

Hofmann, M H; Meyer, D L

1989-09-25

Nervus terminalis (nt) projections were studied by HRP injections into one nostril in adult Xenopus and in Xenopus tadpoles. Central nt targets are: medial septum, preoptic nucleus, nucleus of the anterior commissure, and hypothalamus (mainly ipsilaterally). In Xenopus tadpoles, additional fibers reach the ipsilateral dorsal thalamus and the mesencephalic tegmentum, bilaterally; furthermore, hypothalamic projections are bilateral. Xenopus tadpole nt connections resemble those of adult urodeles more closely than the projections of frogs. However, Xenopus tadpoles lack nt innervation of the medial septum.

KSC-02pd0793

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-05-28

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Boeing Delta II rocket is lifted up the gantry. The rocket is the launch vehicle for the CONTOUR spacecraft, scheduled to launch July 1. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. The spacecraft will fly close to at least two comets, Encke and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, taking pictures of the nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround these rocky, icy building blocks of the solar system.

KSC-02pd0812

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-05-29

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a technician works beneath the Boeing Delta II rocket that will be the launch vehicle for the CONTOUR spacecraft, scheduled to launch July 1. CONTOUR will provide the first detailed look into the heart of a comet -- the nucleus. The spacecraft will fly close to at least two comets, Encke and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, taking pictures of the nucleus while analyzing the gas and dust that surround these rocky, icy building blocks of the solar system.

Three-cluster dynamics within an ab initio framework

DOE PAGES

Quaglioni, Sofia; Romero-Redondo, Carolina; Navratil, Petr

2013-09-26

In this study, we introduce a fully antisymmetrized treatment of three-cluster dynamics within the ab initio framework of the no-core shell model/resonating-group method. Energy-independent nonlocal interactions among the three nuclear fragments are obtained from realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions and consistent ab initio many-body wave functions of the clusters. The three-cluster Schrödinger equation is solved with bound-state boundary conditions by means of the hyperspherical-harmonic method on a Lagrange mesh. We discuss the formalism in detail and give algebraic expressions for systems of two single nucleons plus a nucleus. Using a soft similarity-renormalization-group evolved chiral nucleon-nucleon potential, we apply the method to amore » 4He+n+n description of 6He and compare the results to experiment and to a six-body diagonalization of the Hamiltonian performed within the harmonic-oscillator expansions of the no-core shell model. Differences between the two calculations provide a measure of core ( 4He) polarization effects.« less

First determination of ground state electromagnetic moments of 53Fe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, A. J.; Minamisono, K.; Rossi, D. M.; Beerwerth, R.; Brown, B. A.; Fritzsche, S.; Garand, D.; Klose, A.; Liu, Y.; Maaß, B.; Mantica, P. F.; Müller, P.; Nörtershäuser, W.; Pearson, M. R.; Sumithrarachchi, C.

2017-11-01

The hyperfine coupling constants of neutron deficient 53Fe were deduced from the atomic hyperfine spectrum of the 3 d64 s25D4↔3 d64 s 4 p 5F5 transition, measured using the bunched-beam collinear laser spectroscopy technique. The low-energy 53Fe beam was produced by projectile-fragmentation reactions followed by gas stopping, and used for the first time for laser spectroscopy. Ground state magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole moments were determined as μ =-0.65 (1 ) μN and Q =+35 (15 ) e2fm2 , respectively. The multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method was used to calculate the electric field gradient to deduce Q from the quadrupole hyperfine coupling constant, since the quadrupole coupling constant has not been determined for any Fe isotopes. Both experimental values agree well with nuclear shell model calculations using the GXPF1A effective interaction performed in a full f p shell model space, which support the soft nature of the 56Ni nucleus.

a Truncated Spherical Shell Model for Nuclear Collective Excitations: Applications to the Odd Mass Systems, Neutron-Proton Systems and Other Topics.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Hua

One of the most elusive quantum system in nature is the nucleus, which is a strongly interacting many body system. In the hadronic (a la neutrons and protons) phase, the primary concern of this thesis, the nucleus' single particle excitations are intertwined with their various collective excitations. Although the underpinning of the nucleus is the spherical shell model, it is rendered powerless without a severe, but "intelligent" truncation of the infinite Hilbert space. The recently proposed Fermion Dynamical Symmetry Model (FDSM) is precisely such a truncation scheme and in which a symmetry-dictated turncation scheme is introduced in nuclear physics for the first time. In this thesis, extensions and explorations of the FDSM are made to specifically study the odd mass (where the most intricate mixing of the single particle and the collective excitations are observed) and the neutron-proton systems. In particular, we find that the previously successful phenomenological particle-rotor-model of the Copenhagen school can now be well understood microscopically via the FDSM. Furthermore, the well known Coriolis attenuation and variable moment of inertia effects are naturally understood from the model as well. A computer code FDU0 was written by one of us to study, for the first time, the numerical implications of the FDSM. Several collective modes were found even when the system does not admit a group chain description. In addition, the code is most suitable to study the connection between level statistical behavior (a al Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble) and dynamical symmetry. It is found that there exist critical region of the interaction parameter space were the system behaves "chaotically". This information is certainly crucial to understanding quantum "chaotic" behavior. Also, some of the primitive assumptions of the FDSM are investigated and we concluded that the assumption of the quasi-spin behavior for the so-called abnormal parity particles is inadequate and needs to be extended. Suggestions of extensions are made. Finally, the newly developed physical quantity, the collective spin, is explored in terms of dynamical symmetries in the FDSM.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor mediated cellular and subcellular targeted delivery of Iron oxide core-Titanium dioxide shell nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Ye

TiO2 nanomaterials can carry a multitude of therapeutic and diagnostic agents and the semiconductor properties of TiO2 allow for the production of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species following photoactivation. However, the delivery of these nanomaterials to specific cancer cells and specific subcellular organelles within these cells can have a substantial impact on the efficacy and safety of TiO2 nanoparticle therapeutics. Targeting cell surface receptors that are overexpressed by cancer cells is one strategy to improve the specificity of nanoparticle delivery. Therefore we decided to target the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) because ligand- binding induces rapid receptor endocytosis and ligand-bound EGFR can translocate to the nucleus of cancer cells. To create NPs that can bind EGFR, we identified a peptide derived from the B-loop of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) that has been shown to bind and activate EGFR and conjugated it to the surface of Fe3O4 core-TiO2 shell NPs to produce B-loop NCs. We then devised a pulldown assay to show that B-loop NCs, but not bare NPs or NCs carrying a scrambled B-loop peptide, can bind and extract EGFR from HeLa cell protein extracts. Interestingly, B-loop NCs can also pulldown importin-beta, a protein that can transport EGFR to the nucleus. Furthermore, we used flow cytometry and fluorescently labeled NPs to show that B-loop peptides can significantly improve the internalization of NPs by EGFR-expressing HeLa cells. We determined that B-loop NCs can bind EGFR on the membrane of HeLa cells and that these NCs can be transported to the nucleus, by using a combination of confocal microscopy and X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy (XFM) to indirectly and directly track the subcellular distribution of NCs. Finally, we demonstrate how the Bionanoprobe, a novel high-resolution XFM apparatus that can scan whole-mounted, frozen-hydrated cells at multiple angles can be used to verify the subcellular distribution of B-loop NCs.

Extinction Training Regulates Neuroadaptive Responses to Withdrawal from Chronic Cocaine Self-Administration

PubMed Central

Self, David W.; Choi, Kwang-Ho; Simmons, Diana; Walker, John R.; Smagula, Cynthia S.

2004-01-01

Cocaine produces multiple neuroadaptations with chronic repeated use. Many of these neuroadaptations can be reversed or normalized by extinction training during withdrawal from chronic cocaine self-administration in rats. This article reviews our past and present studies on extinction-induced modulation of the neuroadaptive response to chronic cocaine in the mesolimbic dopamine system, and the role of this modulation in addictive behavior in rats. Extinction training normalizes tyrosine hydroxylase levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell, an effect that could help ameliorate dysphoria and depression associated with withdrawal from chronic cocaine use. Extinction training also increases levels of GluR1 and GluR2/3 AMPA receptor subunits, while normalizing deficits in NR1 NMDA receptor subunits, in a manner consistent with long-term potentiation of excitatory synapses in the NAc shell. Our results suggest that extinction-induced increases in AMPA and NMDA receptors may restore deficits in cortico-accumbal neurotransmission in the NAc shell and facilitate inhibitory control over cocaine-seeking behavior. Other changes identified by gene expression profiling, including up-regulation in the AMPA receptor aggregating protein Narp, suggest that extinction training induces extensive synaptic reorganization. These studies highlight potential benefits for extinction training procedures in the treatment of drug addiction. PMID:15466321

Hypergravity Loading the Cultured Osteoblasts: Modeling and Experimental Analysis of Cellular Morphology and the Cytoskeleton

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Searby, N. D.; Steele, C. R.; Globus, R. K.; Dalton, Bonnie P. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Bone forming cells, osteoblasts, respond to various mechanical forces, including mechanical strain and fluid-induced shear stress. This study examined whether osteoblasts detect changes in gravity as a mechanical force, as assessed by cellular morphology and dimensions of the cytoskeletal network. We used modeling to evaluate how gravity influences cell morphology given theoretical differences in densities between the surrounding medium, cytoplasm, and nucleus. A mechanical model was built based on analysis of axisymmetric shell structures (Fast4 software) to study the effects of 10 times gravity (10G) on cell height. The model indicated 0.02% decrease in overall cell height when the medium was 10% denser than the nucleus or cytoplasm, 5.9 x 10(exp-5)% decrease when the nucleus was 10% denser than the cytoplasm or medium, and 1.3 x 10(exp-5)% decrease when the cell cytoplasm was 10% denser than the nucleus or medium. To experimentally evaluate the influence of gravity, cultured primary fetal rat osteoblasts were grown to near confluence and centrifuged at 10G for 3 hours. Actin, microtubules, and nuclei were fluorescently labeled and analyzed by confocal microscopy to determine overall microtubule and actin network height. Centrifugation led to an apparent reduction in height of both the microtubule (-16%) and the actin (-20%) networks relative to stationary controls. Thus, both modeling and experiments indicate that hypergravity reduces the height of the osteoblast cell layer and their microtubule and actin networks. This combination of modeling and experimental analyses will help us to better understand the mechanical loading of osteoblasts.

Differential sensitivity of ethanol-elicited ERK phosphorylation in nucleus accumbens of Sardinian alcohol-preferring and -non preferring rats.

PubMed

Rosas, Michela; Zaru, Alessandro; Sabariego, Marta; Giugliano, Valentina; Carboni, Ezio; Colombo, Giancarlo; Acquas, Elio

2014-08-01

Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and -non preferring (sNP) rats have been selectively bred for opposite ethanol preference and consumption; sP rats represent a validated experimental tool to model several aspects of excessive ethanol drinking in humans. Phosphorylated Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase (pERK) in dopamine-rich terminal areas plays a critical role in several psychopharmacological effects of addictive drugs, including ethanol. This study was aimed at investigating whether ethanol-elicited ERK activation may differ in key brain areas of ethanol-naïve sP and sNP rats. To this end, the effects of ethanol (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg, administered intra-gastrically [i.g.]) on ERK phosphorylation were assessed by pERK immunohistochemistry in the shell (AcbSh) and core (AcbC) of the nucleus accumbens (Acb) as well as in the prelimbic (PrL) and infralimbic (IL) prefrontal cortex (PFCx), in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BSTL) and in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Ethanol (1 g/kg) significantly increased pERK immunoreactivity in AcbSh and AcbC of sP but not sNP rats. Conversely, ethanol failed to affect pERK expression in PrL and IL PFCx as well as in BSTL and CeA of both sP and sNP rats. These results suggest that selective breeding of these rat lines results in differential effects of acute ethanol on ERK phosphorylation in brain regions critical for the psychopharmacological effects of ethanol. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Deep brain stimulation of the ventral hippocampus restores deficits in processing of auditory evoked potentials in a rodent developmental disruption model of schizophrenia.

PubMed

Ewing, Samuel G; Grace, Anthony A

2013-02-01

Existing antipsychotic drugs are most effective at treating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia but their relative efficacy is low and they are associated with considerable side effects. In this study deep brain stimulation of the ventral hippocampus was performed in a rodent model of schizophrenia (MAM-E17) in an attempt to alleviate one set of neurophysiological alterations observed in this disorder. Bipolar stimulating electrodes were fabricated and implanted, bilaterally, into the ventral hippocampus of rats. High frequency stimulation was delivered bilaterally via a custom-made stimulation device and both spectral analysis (power and coherence) of resting state local field potentials and amplitude of auditory evoked potential components during a standard inhibitory gating paradigm were examined. MAM rats exhibited alterations in specific components of the auditory evoked potential in the infralimbic cortex, the core of the nucleus accumbens, mediodorsal thalamic nucleus, and ventral hippocampus in the left hemisphere only. DBS was effective in reversing these evoked deficits in the infralimbic cortex and the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus of MAM-treated rats to levels similar to those observed in control animals. In contrast stimulation did not alter evoked potentials in control rats. No deficits or stimulation-induced alterations were observed in the prelimbic and orbitofrontal cortices, the shell of the nucleus accumbens or ventral tegmental area. These data indicate a normalization of deficits in generating auditory evoked potentials induced by a developmental disruption by acute high frequency, electrical stimulation of the ventral hippocampus. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Deep brain stimulation of the ventral hippocampus restores deficits in processing of auditory evoked potentials in a rodent developmental disruption model of schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Ewing, Samuel G.; Grace, Anthony A.

2012-01-01

Existing antipsychotic drugs are most effective at treating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but their relative efficacy is low and they are associated with considerable side effects. In this study deep brain stimulation of the ventral hippocampus was performed in a rodent model of schizophrenia (MAM-E17) in an attempt to alleviate one set of neurophysiological alterations observed in this disorder. Bipolar stimulating electrodes were fabricated and implanted, bilaterally, into the ventral hippocampus of rats. High frequency stimulation was delivered bilaterally via a custom-made stimulation device and both spectral analysis (power and coherence) of resting state local field potentials and amplitude of auditory evoked potential components during a standard inhibitory gating paradigm were examined. MAM rats exhibited alterations in specific components of the auditory evoked potential in the infralimbic cortex, the core of the nucleus accumbens, mediodorsal thalamic nucleus, and ventral hippocampus in the left hemisphere only. DBS was effective in reversing these evoked deficits in the infralimbic cortex and the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus of MAM-treated rats to levels similar to those observed in control animals. In contrast stimulation did not alter evoked potentials in control rats. No deficits or stimulation-induced alterations were observed in the prelimbic and orbitofrontal cortices, the shell of the nucleus accumbens or ventral tegmental area. These data indicate a normalization of deficits in generating auditory evoked potentials induced by a developmental disruption by acute high frequency, electrical stimulation of the ventral hippocampus. PMID:23269227

Effect of desipramine and citalopram treatment on forced swimming test-induced changes in cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) immunoreactivity in mice.

PubMed

Chung, Sung; Kim, Hee Jeong; Kim, Hyun Ju; Choi, Sun Hye; Kim, Jin Wook; Kim, Jeong Min; Shin, Kyung Ho

2014-05-01

Recent study demonstrates antidepressant-like effect of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) in the forced swimming test (FST), but less is known about whether antidepressant treatments alter levels of CART immunoreactivity (CART-IR) in the FST. To explore this possibility, we assessed the treatment effects of desipramine and citalopram, which inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin into the presynaptic terminals, respectively, on changes in levels of CART-IR before and after the test swim in mouse brain. Levels of CART-IR in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh), dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST), and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were significantly increased before the test swim by desipramine and citalopram treatments. This increase in CART-IR in the AcbSh, dBNST, and PVN before the test swim remained elevated by desipramine treatment after the test swim, but this increase in these brain areas returned to near control levels after test swim by citalopram treatment. Citalopram, but not desipramine, treatment increased levels of CART-IR in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and the locus ceruleus (LC) before the test swim, and this increase was returned to control levels after the test swim in the CeA, but not in the LC. These results suggest common and distinct regulation of CART by desipramine and citalopram treatments in the FST and raise the possibility that CART in the AcbSh, dBNST, and CeA may be involved in antidepressant-like effect in the FST.

Computation of Thin-Walled Prismatic Shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vlasov, V. Z.

1949-01-01

We consider a prismatic shell consisting of a finite number of narrow rectangular plates and having in the cross-section a finite number of closed contours (fig. 1(a)). We shall assume that the rectangular plates composing the shell are rigidly joined so that there is no motion of any kind of one plate relative to the others meeting at a given connecting line. The position of a point on the middle prismatic surface is considered to be defined by the coordinate z, the distance to a certain initial cross-section z = O, end the coordinate s determining its position on the contour of the cross-section.

The relationship between the First World War and neurology: 100 years of "Shell Shock".

PubMed

Pedroso, José Luiz; Linden, Stefanie C; Barsottini, Orlando G; Maranhão, Péricles; Lees, Andrew J

2017-05-01

The First World War was a global war, beginning on 28 July 1914, until 11 November 1918. Soon after the beginning of the war, there was an "epidemic" of neurological conversion symptoms. Soldiers on both sides started to present in large numbers with neurological symptoms, such as dizziness, tremor, paraplegia, tinnitus, amnesia, weakness, headache and mutism of psychosomatic origin. This condition was known as shell shock, or "war neurosis". Because medically unexplained symptoms remain a major challenge, and considering the close relationship of symptoms described in shell shock with clinical neurology, we should study their history in order to improve future care.

Spinally projecting neurons of the dorsal column nucleus in a reptile: locus of origin and trajectory of termination.

PubMed

Pritz, M B

1996-01-01

Interconnections between the dorsal column nucleus and the spinal cord were investigated in a reptile, Caiman crocodilus. After placement of an anterograde tracer into the dorsal column nucleus, descending fibers are seen to leave this nucleus to enter the dorsal funiculus where they course ventrally to terminate in lamina V of the spinal cord as far caudally as C2. Placement of a retrograde tracer into cut fibers of the cervical spinal cord identified the relay cells of the dorsal column nucleus that project to the spinal cord. These neurons were mainly clustered in a caudal and ventral part of this nucleus. The soma of these spinally projecting cells were small and were generally round or oval in shape. A number of these neurons had the long axis of their soma oriented dorsoventrally, with a primary dendrite extending dorsally. Fibers in the dorsal funiculus that originated from the spinal cord enter the caudal part of the dorsal column nucleus and turn ventral. In the dorsal column nucleus, these axons run parallel to the vertically oriented dendrites of these spinally projecting cells before termination in close relation to the cell bodies of these neurons. Quantitative observations (mean +/- standard error) were made on well labeled neurons and included several measurements: area, perimeter, and degree of eccentricity (greatest width/greatest length) in both the transverse as well as the sagittal plane. These spinally projecting neurons in Caiman are located in the dorsal column nucleus in a position similar to that of spinally projecting cells in cats.

Interacting supernovae from photoionization-confined shells around red supergiant stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mackey, Jonathan; Mohamed, Shazrene; Gvaramadze, Vasilii V.; Kotak, Rubina; Langer, Norbert; Meyer, Dominique M.-A.; Moriya, Takashi J.; Neilson, Hilding R.

2014-08-01

Betelgeuse, a nearby red supergiant, is a fast-moving star with a powerful stellar wind that drives a bow shock into its surroundings. This picture has been challenged by the discovery of a dense and almost static shell that is three times closer to the star than the bow shock and has been decelerated by some external force. The two physically distinct structures cannot both be formed by the hydrodynamic interaction of the wind with the interstellar medium. Here we report that a model in which Betelgeuse's wind is photoionized by radiation from external sources can explain the static shell without requiring a new understanding of the bow shock. Pressure from the photoionized wind generates a standing shock in the neutral part of the wind and forms an almost static, photoionization-confined shell. Other red supergiants should have much more massive shells than Betelgeuse, because the photoionization-confined shell traps up to 35 per cent of all mass lost during the red supergiant phase, confining this gas close to the star until it explodes. After the supernova explosion, massive shells dramatically affect the supernova light curve, providing a natural explanation for the many supernovae that have signatures of circumstellar interaction.

Interacting supernovae from photoionization-confined shells around red supergiant stars.

PubMed

Mackey, Jonathan; Mohamed, Shazrene; Gvaramadze, Vasilii V; Kotak, Rubina; Langer, Norbert; Meyer, Dominique M-A; Moriya, Takashi J; Neilson, Hilding R

2014-08-21

Betelgeuse, a nearby red supergiant, is a fast-moving star with a powerful stellar wind that drives a bow shock into its surroundings. This picture has been challenged by the discovery of a dense and almost static shell that is three times closer to the star than the bow shock and has been decelerated by some external force. The two physically distinct structures cannot both be formed by the hydrodynamic interaction of the wind with the interstellar medium. Here we report that a model in which Betelgeuse's wind is photoionized by radiation from external sources can explain the static shell without requiring a new understanding of the bow shock. Pressure from the photoionized wind generates a standing shock in the neutral part of the wind and forms an almost static, photoionization-confined shell. Other red supergiants should have much more massive shells than Betelgeuse, because the photoionization-confined shell traps up to 35 per cent of all mass lost during the red supergiant phase, confining this gas close to the star until it explodes. After the supernova explosion, massive shells dramatically affect the supernova light curve, providing a natural explanation for the many supernovae that have signatures of circumstellar interaction.

[Building an effective nonlinear three-dimensional finite-element model of human thoracolumbar spine].

PubMed

Zeng, Zhi-Li; Cheng, Li-Ming; Zhu, Rui; Wang, Jian-Jie; Yu, Yan

2011-08-23

To build an effective nonlinear three-dimensional finite-element (FE) model of T(11)-L(3) segments for a further biomechanical study of thoracolumbar spine. The CT (computed tomography) scan images of healthy adult T(11)-L(3) segments were imported into software Simpleware 2.0 to generate a triangular mesh model. Using software Geomagic 8 for model repair and optimization, a solid model was generated into the finite element software Abaqus 6.9. The reasonable element C3D8 was selected for bone structures. Created between bony endplates, the intervertebral disc was subdivided into nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus (44% nucleus, 56% annulus). The nucleus was filled with 5 layers of 8-node solid elements and annulus reinforced by 8 crisscross collagenous fiber layers. The nucleus and annulus were meshed by C3D8RH while the collagen fibers meshed by two node-truss elements. The anterior (ALL) and posterior (PLL) longitudinal ligaments, flavum (FL), supraspinous (SSL), interspinous (ISL) and intertransverse (ITL) ligaments were modeled with S4R shell elements while capsular ligament (CL) was modeled with 3-node shell element. All surrounding ligaments were represented by envelope of 1 mm uniform thickness. The discs and bone structures were modeled with hyper-elastic and elasto-plastic material laws respectively while the ligaments governed by visco-elastic material law. The nonlinear three-dimensional finite-element model of T(11)-L(3) segments was generated and its efficacy verified through validating the geometric similarity and disc load-displacement and stress distribution under the impact of violence. Using ABAQUS/ EXPLICIT 6.9 the explicit dynamic finite element solver, the impact test was simulated in vitro. In this study, a 3-dimensional, nonlinear FE model including 5 vertebrae, 4 intervertebral discs and 7 ligaments consisted of 78 887 elements and 71 939 nodes. The model had good geometric similarity under the same conditions. The results of FEM intervertebral disc load-displacement curve were similar to those of in vitro test. The stress distribution results of vertebral cortical bone, posterior complex and cancellous bone were similar to those of other static experiments in a dynamic impact test under the observation of stress cloud. With the advantages of high geometric and mechanical similarity and complete thoracolumbar, hexahedral meshes, nonlinear finite element model may facilitate the impact loading test for a further dynamic analysis of injury mechanism for thoracolumbar burst fracture.

Plasma Radiation Source on the Basis of the Gas Puff with Outer Plasma Shell in the Circuit of a Mega-Ampere Load Current Doubler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kokshenev, V. A.; Labetsky, A. Yu.; Shishlov, A. V.; Kurmaev, N. E.; Fursov, F. I.; Cherdizov, R. K.

2017-12-01

Characteristics of Z-pinch plasma radiation in the form of a double shell neon gas puff with outer plasma shell are investigated in the microsecond implosion mode. Experiments are performed using a GIT-12 mega-joule generator with load current doubler having a ferromagnetic core at implosion currents up to 5 MA. Conditions for matching of the nonlinear load with the mega-ampere current multiplier circuit are determined. The load parameters (plasma shell characteristics and mass and geometry of gas puff shells) are optimized on the energy supplied to the gas puff and n energy characteristics of radiation. It is established that the best modes of K-shell radiation in neon are realized for such radial distribution of the gas-puff material at which the compression velocity of the shell is close to a constant and amounts to 27-30 cm/μs. In these modes, up to 40% of energy supplied to the gas puff is converted into K-shell radiation. The reasons limiting the efficiency of the radiation source with increasing implosion current are analyzed. A modernized version of the energy supply from the current doubler to the Z-pinch is proposed.

Centaurus A, the core of the problem

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tingay, S. J.; Jauncey, D. L.; Preston, R. A.; Reynolds, J. E.; Meier, D. L.; Tzioumis, A. K.; Jones, D. L.; King, E. A.; Amy, S. W.; Biggs, J. D.

1994-01-01

The bright, peculiar elliptical galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128, PKS 1322-427) was one of the first extragalactic radio sources to be optically identified (Bolton et al. 1949). At a distance of 4 Mpc, Centaurus A is the closest active radio galaxy and affords the highest linear imaging resolution (1 mas approximately equal to 0.02 pc) and hence the best prospects for studying an active nucleus close to the central radio source. We present the results of multi-epoch, 8.4-GHz, very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), imaging observations of the nucleus made over the past three years. The nucleus possesses a core-jet structure where the inner portion of the jet shows apparent linear motion with a velocity substantially less than the speed of light.

Distinct rhythm generators for inspiration and expiration in the juvenile rat

PubMed Central

Janczewski, Wiktor A; Feldman, Jack L

2006-01-01

Inspiration and active expiration are commonly viewed as antagonistic phases of a unitary oscillator that generates respiratory rhythm. This view conflicts with observations we report here in juvenile rats, where by administration of fentanyl, a selective μ-opiate agonist, and induction of lung reflexes, we separately manipulated the frequency of inspirations and expirations. Moreover, completely transecting the brainstem at the caudal end of the facial nucleus abolished active expirations, while rhythmic inspirations continued. We hypothesize that inspiration and expiration are generated by coupled, anatomically separate rhythm generators, one generating active expiration located close to the facial nucleus in the region of the retrotrapezoid nucleus/parafacial respiratory group, the other generating inspiration located more caudally in the preBötzinger Complex. PMID:16293645

Gamow-Teller response in the configuration space of a density-functional-theory-rooted no-core configuration-interaction model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konieczka, M.; Kortelainen, M.; Satuła, W.

2018-03-01

Background: The atomic nucleus is a unique laboratory in which to study fundamental aspects of the electroweak interaction. This includes a question concerning in medium renormalization of the axial-vector current, which still lacks satisfactory explanation. Study of spin-isospin or Gamow-Teller (GT) response may provide valuable information on both the quenching of the axial-vector coupling constant as well as on nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics. Purpose: We have performed a seminal calculation of the GT response by using the no-core configuration-interaction approach rooted in multireference density functional theory (DFT-NCCI). The model treats properly isospin and rotational symmetries and can be applied to calculate both the nuclear spectra and transition rates in atomic nuclei, irrespectively of their mass and particle-number parity. Methods: The DFT-NCCI calculation proceeds as follows: First, one builds a configuration space by computing relevant, for a given physical problem, (multi)particle-(multi)hole Slater determinants. Next, one applies the isospin and angular-momentum projections and performs the isospin and K mixing in order to construct a model space composed of linearly dependent states of good angular momentum. Eventually, one mixes the projected states by solving the Hill-Wheeler-Griffin equation. Results: The method is applied to compute the GT strength distribution in selected N ≈Z nuclei including the p -shell 8Li and 8Be nuclei and the s d -shell well-deformed nucleus 24Mg. In order to demonstrate a flexibility of the approach we present also a calculation of the superallowed GT β decay in doubly-magic spherical 100Sn and the low-spin spectrum in 100In. Conclusions: It is demonstrated that the DFT-NCCI model is capable of capturing the GT response satisfactorily well by using a relatively small configuration space, exhausting simultaneously the GT sum rule. The model, due to its flexibility and broad range of applicability, may either serve as a complement or even as an alternative to other theoretical approaches, including the conventional nuclear shell model.

Mussel Shell Evaluation as Bioindicator For Heavy Metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrello, Avacir Casanova; Lopes, Fábio; Galvão, Tiago Dutra

2010-05-01

Recently, in Brazil, it has appeared a new and unusual "plague" in lazer and commercial fishing. It is caused by the parasitic larval phase of certain native bivalve mollusks of fresh water known as "Naiades" and its involves the presence of big bivalve of fresh water, mainly Anodontites trapesialis, in the tanks and dams of the fish creation. These bivalve mollusks belong to the Unionoida Order, Mycetopodidae Family. The objective of the present work was to analyze the shells of these mollusks to verify the possibility of use as bioindicators for heavy metals in freshwater. The mollusks shells were collected in a commercial fishing at Londrina-PR. A qualitative analysis was made to determine the chemical composition of the shells and verify a possible correlation with existent heavy metals in the aquatic environment. In the inner part of the shells were identified the elements Ca, P, Fe, Mn and Sr and in the outer part were identified Ca, P, Fe, Mn, Sr and Cu. The Ca ratio of the outer part by inner part of the analyzed shells is around of 1, as expected, because Ca is the main compound of mollusks shells. The ratio of P, Fe, Mn, and Sr to the Ca were constant in all analyzed shells, being close to 0.015. The ratio Cu/Ca varied among the shells, showing that this mollusk is sensitive to concentration of this element in the aquatic environment.

Thesis - keeping the management system {open_quotes}live{close_quotes} and reaching the workforce

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

Primrose, M.J.; Bentley, P.D.; Graaf, G.C. van der

1996-12-31

Previous papers given to SPE conferences have described the Shell Group approach to Safety Management Systems and to Safety Cases. Their extension to HSE MS and to HSE Cases has also been addressed. Since 1984 the Enhanced Safety Management (ESM) programme within Shell companies has led to a significant improvement in the management of safety but it was only when structured management systems (based upon an understanding of the business processes) were introduced that true integration of HSE as a line responsibility became a reality. This paper describes the THESIS software package and the way that management systems have beenmore » made {open_quote}live{close_quote} and how workforce involvement can be demonstrated.« less

Variation in Orthologous Shell-Forming Proteins Contribute to Molluscan Shell Diversity.

PubMed

Jackson, Daniel J; Reim, Laurin; Randow, Clemens; Cerveau, Nicolas; Degnan, Bernard M; Fleck, Claudia

2017-11-01

Despite the evolutionary success and ancient heritage of the molluscan shell, little is known about the molecular details of its formation, evolutionary origins, or the interactions between the material properties of the shell and its organic constituents. In contrast to this dearth of information, a growing collection of molluscan shell-forming proteomes and transcriptomes suggest they are comprised of both deeply conserved, and lineage specific elements. Analyses of these sequence data sets have suggested that mechanisms such as exon shuffling, gene co-option, and gene family expansion facilitated the rapid evolution of shell-forming proteomes and supported the diversification of this phylum specific structure. In order to further investigate and test these ideas we have examined the molecular features and spatial expression patterns of two shell-forming genes (Lustrin and ML1A2) and coupled these observations with materials properties measurements of shells from a group of closely related gastropods (abalone). We find that the prominent "GS" domain of Lustrin, a domain believed to confer elastomeric properties to the shell, varies significantly in length between the species we investigated. Furthermore, the spatial expression patterns of Lustrin and ML1A2 also vary significantly between species, suggesting that both protein architecture, and the regulation of spatial gene expression patterns, are important drivers of molluscan shell evolution. Variation in these molecular features might relate to certain materials properties of the shells of these species. These insights reveal an important and underappreciated source of variation within shell-forming proteomes that must contribute to the diversity of molluscan shell phenotypes. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.

{sigma} Hyperons in the Nucleus

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

Bart, S.; Chrien, R. E.; Franklin, W. A.

1999-12-20

A search for {sigma} hypernuclear states in p -shell hypernuclei has been performed with the Moby Dick spectrometer and the low energy separated beam (LESB-2) at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (BNL AGS). Unlike some previously published reports, no narrow states have been observed for targets of {sup 6}Li and {sup 9}Be in (K{sup -}, {pi}{sup {+-}}) reactions, either for bound state or continuum regions. Together with the previously reported J=0 , T=1/2 bound state in {sup 4}{sub {sigma}} He , these results demonstrate the crucial role of isospin in {sigma} hypernuclei. (c) 1999 The American Physical Society.

Electromagnetic moments of 22F

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mihara, M.; Matsuta, K.; Komurasaki, J.; Hirano, H.; Nishimura, D.; Momota, S.; Ohtsubo, T.; Izumikawa, T.; Shimbara, Y.; Kubo, T.; Kameda, D.; Zhou, Dongmei; Zheng, Yongnan; Yuan, Daqing; Zhu, Shengyun; Kitagawa, A.; Kanazawa, M.; Torikoshi, M.; Sato, S.; Nagatomo, T.; Matsumiya, R.; Ishikawa, D.; Fukuda, M.; Minamisono, T.; Nojiri, Y.; Alonso, J. R.; Crebs, G. F.; Symons, T. J. M.

2010-03-01

The magnetic dipole (μ) and electric quadrupole (Q) moments of short-lived nucleus 22F (Iπ=4+, T=4.2s) have been measured for the first time by means of the β-NMR technique. A spin polarized 22F beam was produced through the charge exchange reaction of 22Ne and was implanted into single crysltals of NaF and MgF2 for μ and Q measurements, respectively. As a result, |μ(F22)|=(2.69443±0.00039)μ and |Q(F22)|=(3±2)mb was obtained. These values are well reproduced by the shell model calculations.

Quest for consistent modelling of statistical decay of the compound nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, Tathagata; Nath, S.; Pal, Santanu

2018-01-01

A statistical model description of heavy ion induced fusion-fission reactions is presented where shell effects, collective enhancement of level density, tilting away effect of compound nuclear spin and dissipation are included. It is shown that the inclusion of all these effects provides a consistent picture of fission where fission hindrance is required to explain the experimental values of both pre-scission neutron multiplicities and evaporation residue cross-sections in contrast to some of the earlier works where a fission hindrance is required for pre-scission neutrons but a fission enhancement for evaporation residue cross-sections.

Low spin structure of 86Se: Confirmation of γ collectivity at N =52

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Materna, T.; Urban, W.; Sieja, K.; Köster, U.; Faust, H.; Czerwiński, M.; RzÄ ca-Urban, T.; Bernards, C.; Fransen, C.; Jolie, J.; Regis, J.-M.; Thomas, T.; Warr, N.

2015-09-01

The 86Se nucleus has been investigated by γ -ray spectroscopy using an array of Ge detectors placed at the exit of the fission-fragment mass separator Lohengrin of the Institut Laue-Langevin. New transitions have been identified by studying the β decay of 86As. An excitation scheme is proposed and includes a 22+ level at 1399 keV and a possible 3+ level that are well reproduced by shell model calculations with the most recent parametrization. The properties of the excitations indicate a possible onset of γ collectivity in 86Se.

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

Adam, C.; Romanczukiewicz, T.; Wereszczynski, A.

A restriction of the baby Skyrme model consisting of the quartic and potential terms only is investigated in detail for a wide range of potentials. Further, its properties are compared with those of the corresponding full baby Skyrme models. We find that topological (charge) as well as geometrical (nucleus/shell shape) features of baby Skyrmions are captured already by the soliton solutions of the restricted model. Further, we find a coincidence between the compact or noncompact nature of solitons in the restricted model, on the one hand, and the existence or nonexistence of multi-Skyrmions in the full baby Skyrme model, onmore » the other hand.« less

Formation, structure, and evolution of boiling nucleus and interfacial tension between bulk liquid phase and nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiao-Dong; Peng, Xiao-Feng; Tian, Yong; Wang, Bu-Xuan

2005-05-01

In this paper, the concept of the molecular free path is introduced to derive a criterion distinguishing active molecules from inactive molecules in liquid phase. A concept of the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) of active molecules is proposed to describe the physical configuration before the formation of a nucleus during vapor-liquid phase transition. All active molecules exist as monomers when the concentration of active molecules is lower than CAC, while the active molecules will generate aggregation once the concentration of the active molecules reaches CAC. However, these aggregates with aggregation number, N, smaller than five can steadily exist in bulk phase. The other excess active molecules can only produce infinite aggregation and form a critical nucleus of vapor-liquid phase transition. Without any outer perturbation the state point of CAC corresponds to the critical superheated or supercooled state. Meanwhile, a model of two-region structure of a nucleus is proposed to describe nucleus evolution. The interfacial tension between bulk liquid phase and nucleus is dependent of the density gradient in the transition region and varies with the structure change of the transition region. With the interfacial tension calculated using this model, the predicted nucleation rate is very close to the experimental measurement. Furthermore, this model and associated analysis provides solid theoretical evidences to clarify the definition of nucleation rate and understand nucleation phenomenon with the insight into the physical nature.

Revisiting chameleon gravity: Thin-shell and no-shell fields with appropriate boundary conditions

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

Tamaki, Takashi; Department of Physics, Rikkyo University, Toshima, Tokyo 171-8501; Tsujikawa, Shinji

2008-10-15

We derive analytic solutions of a chameleon scalar field {phi} that couples to a nonrelativistic matter in the weak gravitational background of a spherically symmetric body, paying particular attention to a field mass m{sub A} inside of the body. The standard thin-shell field profile is recovered by taking the limit m{sub A}r{sub c}{yields}{infinity}, where r{sub c} is a radius of the body. We show the existence of 'no-shell' solutions where the field is nearly frozen in the whole interior of the body, which does not necessarily correspond to the 'zero-shell' limit of thin-shell solutions. In the no-shell case, under themore » condition m{sub A}r{sub c}>>1, the effective coupling of {phi} with matter takes the same asymptotic form as that in the thin-shell case. We study experimental bounds coming from the violation of equivalence principle as well as solar-system tests for a number of models including f(R) gravity and find that the field is in either the thin-shell or the no-shell regime under such constraints, depending on the shape of scalar-field potentials. We also show that, for the consistency with local gravity constraints, the field at the center of the body needs to be extremely close to the value {phi}{sub A} at the extremum of an effective potential induced by the matter coupling.« less

Description of two new Jujubinus species (Gastropoda: Trochidae) from the Sicily Channel, with notes on the Jujubinus curinii species complex.

PubMed

Smriglio, Carlo; Di Giulio, Andrea; Mariottini, Paolo

2014-06-17

Based on shell characters, two new species of the gastropod family Trochidae, Jujubinus eleonorae n. sp. and Jujubinus trilloi n. sp., from the Sicily Channel are described. Shells of the new taxa were collected in the lower infralittoral of the Skerki and Talbot Banks, respectively. The new taxa are compared with Jujubinus curinii Bogi & Campani, 2005, morphologically the most closely related species.

Role of Ventral Subiculum in Context-Induced Relapse to Alcohol Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence

PubMed Central

Campbell, Erin J.; Whitaker, Leslie R.; Harvey, Brandon K.; Kaganovsky, Konstantin; Adhikary, Sweta; Hope, Bruce T.; Heins, Robert C.; Prisinzano, Thomas E.; Vardy, Eyal; Bonci, Antonello; Bossert, Jennifer M.

2016-01-01

In many human alcoholics, abstinence is self-imposed because of the negative consequences of excessive alcohol use, and relapse is often triggered by exposure to environmental contexts associated with prior alcohol drinking. We recently developed a rat model of this human condition in which we train alcohol-preferring P rats to self-administer alcohol in one context (A), punish the alcohol-reinforced responding in a different context (B), and then test for relapse to alcohol seeking in Contexts A and B without alcohol or shock. Here, we studied the role of projections to nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell from ventral subiculum (vSub), basolateral amygdala, paraventricular thalamus, and ventral medial prefrontal cortex in context-induced relapse after punishment-imposed abstinence. First, we measured double-labeling of the neuronal activity marker Fos with the retrograde tracer cholera toxin subunit B (injected in NAc shell) and demonstrated that context-induced relapse is associated with selective activation of the vSub→NAc shell projection. Next, we reversibly inactivated the vSub with GABA receptor agonists (muscimol+baclofen) before the context-induced relapse tests and provided evidence for a causal role of vSub in this relapse. Finally, we used a dual-virus approach to restrict expression of the inhibitory κ opioid-receptor based DREADD (KORD) in vSub→NAc shell projection neurons. We found that systemic injections of the KORD agonist salvinorin B, which selectively inhibits KORD-expressing neurons, decreased context-induced relapse to alcohol seeking. Our results demonstrate a critical role of vSub in context-induced relapse after punishment-imposed abstinence and further suggest a role of the vSub→NAc projection in this relapse. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In many human alcoholics, abstinence is self-imposed because of the negative consequences of excessive use, and relapse is often triggered by exposure to environmental contexts associated with prior alcohol use. Until recently, an animal model of this human condition did not exist. We developed a rat model of this human condition in which we train alcohol-preferring P rats to self-administer alcohol in one context (A), punish the alcohol-reinforced responding in a different context (B), and test for relapse to alcohol seeking in Contexts A and B. Here, we used neuroanatomical, neuropharmacological, and chemogenetic methods to demonstrate a role of ventral subiculum and potentially its projections to nucleus accumbens in context-induced relapse after punishment-imposed abstinence. PMID:26985037

Role of Ventral Subiculum in Context-Induced Relapse to Alcohol Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence.

PubMed

Marchant, Nathan J; Campbell, Erin J; Whitaker, Leslie R; Harvey, Brandon K; Kaganovsky, Konstantin; Adhikary, Sweta; Hope, Bruce T; Heins, Robert C; Prisinzano, Thomas E; Vardy, Eyal; Bonci, Antonello; Bossert, Jennifer M; Shaham, Yavin

2016-03-16

In many human alcoholics, abstinence is self-imposed because of the negative consequences of excessive alcohol use, and relapse is often triggered by exposure to environmental contexts associated with prior alcohol drinking. We recently developed a rat model of this human condition in which we train alcohol-preferring P rats to self-administer alcohol in one context (A), punish the alcohol-reinforced responding in a different context (B), and then test for relapse to alcohol seeking in Contexts A and B without alcohol or shock. Here, we studied the role of projections to nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell from ventral subiculum (vSub), basolateral amygdala, paraventricular thalamus, and ventral medial prefrontal cortex in context-induced relapse after punishment-imposed abstinence. First, we measured double-labeling of the neuronal activity marker Fos with the retrograde tracer cholera toxin subunit B (injected in NAc shell) and demonstrated that context-induced relapse is associated with selective activation of the vSub→NAc shell projection. Next, we reversibly inactivated the vSub with GABA receptor agonists (muscimol+baclofen) before the context-induced relapse tests and provided evidence for a causal role of vSub in this relapse. Finally, we used a dual-virus approach to restrict expression of the inhibitory κ opioid-receptor based DREADD (KORD) in vSub→NAc shell projection neurons. We found that systemic injections of the KORD agonist salvinorin B, which selectively inhibits KORD-expressing neurons, decreased context-induced relapse to alcohol seeking. Our results demonstrate a critical role of vSub in context-induced relapse after punishment-imposed abstinence and further suggest a role of the vSub→NAc projection in this relapse. In many human alcoholics, abstinence is self-imposed because of the negative consequences of excessive use, and relapse is often triggered by exposure to environmental contexts associated with prior alcohol use. Until recently, an animal model of this human condition did not exist. We developed a rat model of this human condition in which we train alcohol-preferring P rats to self-administer alcohol in one context (A), punish the alcohol-reinforced responding in a different context (B), and test for relapse to alcohol seeking in Contexts A and B. Here, we used neuroanatomical, neuropharmacological, and chemogenetic methods to demonstrate a role of ventral subiculum and potentially its projections to nucleus accumbens in context-induced relapse after punishment-imposed abstinence. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/363282-14$15.00/0.

Gas cloud G2 can illuminate the black hole population near the galactic center.

PubMed

Bartos, Imre; Haiman, Zoltán; Kocsis, Bence; Márka, Szabolcs

2013-05-31

Galactic nuclei are expected to be densely populated with stellar- and intermediate-mass black holes. Exploring this population will have important consequences for the observation prospects of gravitational waves as well as understanding galactic evolution. The gas cloud G2 currently approaching Sgr A* provides an unprecedented opportunity to probe the black hole and neutron star population of the Galactic nucleus. We examine the possibility of a G2-cloud-black-hole encounter and its detectability with current x-ray satellites, such as Chandra and NuSTAR. We find that multiple encounters are likely to occur close to the pericenter, which may be detectable upon favorable circumstances. This opportunity provides an additional important science case for leading x-ray observatories to closely follow G2 on its way to the nucleus.

Cometary ion dynamics observed in the close vicinity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during the intermediate activity period

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berčič, L.; Behar, E.; Nilsson, H.; Nicolaou, G.; Wieser, G. Stenberg; Wieser, M.; Goetz, C.

2018-06-01

Aims: Cometary ions are constantly produced in the coma, and once produced they are accelerated and eventually escape the coma. We describe and interpret the dynamics of the cometary ion flow, of an intermediate active comet, very close to the nucleus and in the terminator plane. Methods: We analysed in situ ion and magnetic field measurements, and characterise the velocity distribution functions (mostly using plasma moments). We propose a statistical approach over a period of one month. Results: On average, two populations were observed, separated in phase space. The motion of the first is governed by its interaction with the solar wind farther upstream, while the second one is accelerated in the inner coma and displays characteristics compatible with an ambipolar electric field. Both populations display a consistent anti-sunward velocity component. Conclusions: Cometary ions born in different regions of the coma are seen close to the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko with distinct motions governed in one case by the solar wind electric field and in the other case by the position relative to the nucleus. A consistent anti-sunward component is observed for all cometary ions. An asymmetry is found in the average cometary ion density in a solar wind electric field reference frame, with higher density in the negative (south) electric field hemisphere. There is no corresponding signature in the average magnetic field strength.

The Magellania venosa Biomineralizing Proteome: A Window into Brachiopod Shell Evolution

PubMed Central

Jackson, Daniel J.; Mann, Karlheinz; Häussermann, Vreni; Schilhabel, Markus B.; Lüter, Carsten; Griesshaber, Erika; Schmahl, Wolfgang; Wörheide, Gert

2015-01-01

Brachiopods are a lineage of invertebrates well known for the breadth and depth of their fossil record. Although the quality of this fossil record attracts the attention of paleontologists, geochemists, and paleoclimatologists, modern day brachiopods are also of interest to evolutionary biologists due to their potential to address a variety of questions ranging from developmental biology to biomineralization. The brachiopod shell is a composite material primarily composed of either calcite or calcium phosphate in close association with proteins and polysaccharides which give these composite structures their material properties. The information content of these biomolecules, sequestered within the shell during its construction, has the potential to inform hypotheses focused on describing how brachiopod shell formation evolved. Here, using high throughput proteomic approaches and next generation sequencing, we have surveyed and characterized the first shell-proteome and shell-forming transcriptome of any brachiopod, the South American Magellania venosa (Rhynchonelliformea: Terebratulida). We find that the seven most abundant proteins present in the shell are unique to M. venosa, but that these proteins display biochemical features found in other metazoan biomineralization proteins. We can also detect some M. venosa proteins that display significant sequence similarity to other metazoan biomineralization proteins, suggesting that some elements of the brachiopod shell-forming proteome are deeply evolutionarily conserved. We also employed a variety of preparation methods to isolate shell proteins and find that in comparison to the shells of other spiralian invertebrates (such as mollusks) the shell ultrastructure of M. venosa may explain the effects these preparation strategies have on our results. PMID:25912046

STEAM STIRRED HOMOGENEOUS NUCLEAR REACTOR

DOEpatents

Busey, H.M.

1958-06-01

A homogeneous nuclear reactor utilizing a selfcirculating liquid fuel is described. The reactor vessel is in the form of a vertically disposed tubular member having the lower end closed by the tube walls and the upper end closed by a removal fianged assembly. A spherical reaction shell is located in the lower end of the vessel and spaced from the inside walls. The reaction shell is perforated on its lower surface and is provided with a bundle of small-diameter tubes extending vertically upward from its top central portion. The reactor vessel is surrounded in the region of the reaction shell by a neutron reflector. The liquid fuel, which may be a solution of enriched uranyl sulfate in ordinary or heavy water, is mainiained at a level within the reactor vessel of approximately the top of the tubes. The heat of the reaction which is created in the critical region within the spherical reaction shell forms steam bubbles which more upwardly through the tubes. The upward movement of these bubbles results in the forcing of the liquid fuel out of the top of these tubes, from where the fuel passes downwardly in the space between the tubes and the vessel wall where it is cooled by heat exchangers. The fuel then re-enters the critical region in the reaction shell through the perforations in the bottom. The upper portion of the reactor vessel is provided with baffles to prevent the liquid fuel from splashing into this region which is also provided with a recombiner apparatus for recombining the radiolytically dissociated moderator vapor and a control means.

Distributed Cerebellar Motor Learning: A Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity Model

PubMed Central

Luque, Niceto R.; Garrido, Jesús A.; Naveros, Francisco; Carrillo, Richard R.; D'Angelo, Egidio; Ros, Eduardo

2016-01-01

Deep cerebellar nuclei neurons receive both inhibitory (GABAergic) synaptic currents from Purkinje cells (within the cerebellar cortex) and excitatory (glutamatergic) synaptic currents from mossy fibers. Those two deep cerebellar nucleus inputs are thought to be also adaptive, embedding interesting properties in the framework of accurate movements. We show that distributed spike-timing-dependent plasticity mechanisms (STDP) located at different cerebellar sites (parallel fibers to Purkinje cells, mossy fibers to deep cerebellar nucleus cells, and Purkinje cells to deep cerebellar nucleus cells) in close-loop simulations provide an explanation for the complex learning properties of the cerebellum in motor learning. Concretely, we propose a new mechanistic cerebellar spiking model. In this new model, deep cerebellar nuclei embed a dual functionality: deep cerebellar nuclei acting as a gain adaptation mechanism and as a facilitator for the slow memory consolidation at mossy fibers to deep cerebellar nucleus synapses. Equipping the cerebellum with excitatory (e-STDP) and inhibitory (i-STDP) mechanisms at deep cerebellar nuclei afferents allows the accommodation of synaptic memories that were formed at parallel fibers to Purkinje cells synapses and then transferred to mossy fibers to deep cerebellar nucleus synapses. These adaptive mechanisms also contribute to modulate the deep-cerebellar-nucleus-output firing rate (output gain modulation toward optimizing its working range). PMID:26973504

The two-stage origin of bright rings in extended radio lobes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morrison, P.; Sadun, A.

1996-01-01

A few strong radio sources show unusual large-intensity features (up to 100- or 200-kpc scale) within their extended lobes. These appear in the plane of the sky as nearly circular rings, but physically they are actually spherical shells. Two such sources, HerA (3C348) and 3C310, are analysed in terms of their similarly uniform kinematics. Such objects do not easily fit into the Fanaroff-Riley scheme for jet and lobe sources. We model these sources by a two-stage account of their dynamics. Long ago, acoustic waves (or weak shocks) were excited again and again to form sphere after sphere in the pre-existing thermal galactic wind. They all arose at one spot along the jet axis at the edge of the galaxy, to drift with the wind, expanding uniformly at the speed of sound in the near-isothermal gas. The wind flows out supersonically at about Mach 5. In a much later second stage, a new and much faster flow of relativistic plasma is energized by the active nucleus deep within the galaxy. That plasma jet swiftly forms the radio lobe and infuses it with radio electrons. The new plasma fills in locally the low-pressure portions of each drifting acoustic shell. The shells then appear as a procession of radio rings, with modest intensity contrast and an understandable polarization. Both of these radio ring sources appear to have optically double active nuclei. Perhaps periodic tidal forces determine the density modulations during the older outflow that gave rise to the several drifting shells.

Biomimetic synthesis of sericin and silica hybrid colloidosomes for stimuli-responsive anti-cancer drug delivery systems.

PubMed

Yang, Ying; Cai, Yurong; Sun, Ning; Li, Ruijing; Li, Wenhua; Kundu, Subhas C; Kong, Xiangdong; Yao, Juming

2017-03-01

Colloidosomes are becoming popular due to their significant flexibility with respect to microcapsule functionality. This study reports a facile approach for synthesizing silica colloidosomes by using sericin microcapsule as the matrix in an environment-friendly method. The silica colloid arrangement on the sericin microcapsules are orchestrated by altering the reaction parameters. Doxorubicin (DOX), used as a hydrophilic anti-cancer drug model, is encapsulated into the colloidosomes in a mild aqueous solution and becomes stimuli-responsive to different external environments, including pH values, protease, and ionic strength are also observed. Colloidosomes with sub-monolayers, close-packed monolayers, and close-packed multi-layered SiO 2 colloid shells can be fabricated under the optimized reaction conditions. A flexible DOX release from colloidosomes can be obtained via modulating the SiO 2 colloid layer arrangement and thickness. The close-packed and multi-layered SiO 2 colloid shells can best protect the colloidosomes and delay the rapid cargo release. MG-63 cells are killed when doxorubicin is released from the microcapsules due to degradation in the microenvironment of cancer cells. The drug release period is prolonged as SiO 2 shell thickness and integrity increase. This work suggests that the hybrid colloidosomes can be effective in a bioactive molecule delivery system. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Organic superalkalis with closed-shell structure and aromaticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, Ambrish Kumar

2018-06-01

Benzene (C6H6) and polycyclic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene (C10H8), anthracene (C14H10) and coronene (C24H12) are well known aromatic organic compounds. We study the substitution of Li replacing all H-atoms in these hydrocarbons using density functional method. The vertical ionisation energy of such lithiated species, i.e. C6Li6, C10Li8, C14Li10 and C24Li12 ranges 4.24-4.50 eV, which is lower than the ionisation energy (IE) of Li atom. Thus, these species may behave as superalkalis due to their lower IE than alkali metal. However, these lithiated species possess planar and closed-shell structure, unlike typical superalkalis. Furthermore, all Li-substituted species are aromatic although their degree of aromaticity is reduced as compared to corresponding hydrocarbon analogues. We have further explored the structure of C6Li6 as star-like, unlike its inorganic analogue B3N3Li6, which appears as fan-like structure. We have also demonstrated that the interaction of C6Li6 with a superhalogen (such as BF4) is similar to that of a typical superalkali (such as OLi3). This may further suggest that the proposed lithiated species may form a new class of closed-shell organic superalkalis with aromaticity.

Misfit stresses in a composite core-shell nanowire with an eccentric parallelepipedal core subjected to one-dimensional cross dilatation eigenstrain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krasnitckii, S. A.; Kolomoetc, D. R.; Smirnov, A. M.; Gutkin, M. Yu

2017-03-01

We present an analytical solution to the boundary-value problem in the classical theory of elasticity for a core-shell nanowire with an eccentric parallelepipedal core of an arbitrary rectangular cross section. The core is subjected to one-dimensional cross dilatation eigenstrain. The misfit stresses are found in a concise and transparent closed form which is convenient for practical use in theoretical modeling of misfit relaxation processes.

GAUSSIAN 76: An ab initio Molecular Orbital Program

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Binkley, J. S.; Whiteside, R.; Hariharan, P. C.; Seeger, R.; Hehre, W. J.; Lathan, W. A.; Newton, M. D.; Ditchfield, R.; Pople, J. A.

1978-01-01

Gaussian 76 is a general-purpose computer program for ab initio Hartree-Fock molecular orbital calculations. It can handle basis sets involving s, p and d-type Gaussian functions. Certain standard sets (STO-3G, 4-31G, 6-31G*, etc.) are stored internally for easy use. Closed shell (RHF) or unrestricted open shell (UHF) wave functions can be obtained. Facilities are provided for geometry optimization to potential minima and for limited potential surface scans.

Increases in food intake or food-seeking behavior induced by GABAergic, opioid, or dopaminergic stimulation of the nucleus accumbens: is it hunger?

PubMed

Hanlon, Erin C; Baldo, Brian A; Sadeghian, Ken; Kelley, Ann E

2004-03-01

Previous work has shown that stimulation of GABAergic, opioid, or dopaminergic systems within the nucleus accumbens modulates food intake and food-seeking behavior. However, it is not known whether such stimulation mimics a motivational state of food deprivation that commonly enables animals to learn a new operant response to obtain food. In order to address this question, acquisition of lever pressing for food in hungry animals was compared with acquisition in non-food-deprived rats subjected to various nucleus accumbens drug treatments. All animals were given the opportunity to learn an instrumental response (a lever press) to obtain a food pellet. Prior to training, ad lib-fed rats were infused with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A agonist muscimol (100 ng/0.5 microl per side) or the mu-opioid receptor agonist D-Ala2, N-me-Phe4, Gly-ol5-enkephalin (DAMGO, 0.25 microg/0.5 microl per side), or saline into the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). The indirect dopamine agonist amphetamine (10 microg/0.5 microl per side) was infused into the AcbSh or nucleus accumbens core (AcbC) of ad lib-fed rats. An additional group was food deprived and infused with saline in the AcbSh. Chow and sugar pellet intake responses after drug treatments were also evaluated in free-feeding tests. Muscimol, DAMGO, or amphetamine did not facilitate acquisition of lever pressing for food, despite clearly increasing food intake in free-feeding tests. In contrast, food-deprived animals rapidly learned the task. These findings suggest that pharmacological stimulation of any of these neurochemical systems in isolation is insufficient to enable acquisition of a food-reinforced operant task. Thus, these selective processes, while likely involved in control of food intake and food-seeking behavior, appear unable to recapitulate the conditions necessary to mimic the state of negative energy balance.

User document for computer programs for ring-stiffened shells of revolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, G. A.

1973-01-01

A user manual and related program documentation is presented for six compatible computer programs for structural analysis of axisymmetric shell structures. The programs apply to a common structural model but analyze different modes of structural response. In particular, they are: (1) Linear static response under asymmetric loads; (2) Buckling of linear states under asymmetric loads; (3) Nonlinear static response under axisymmetric loads; (4) Buckling nonlinear states under axisymmetric (5) Imperfection sensitivity of buckling modes under axisymmetric loads; and (6) Vibrations about nonlinear states under axisymmetric loads. These programs treat branched shells of revolution with an arbitrary arrangement of a large number of open branches but with at most one closed branch.

Auditory responses to electric and infrared neural stimulation of the rat cochlear nucleus.

PubMed

Verma, Rohit U; Guex, Amélie A; Hancock, Kenneth E; Durakovic, Nedim; McKay, Colette M; Slama, Michaël C C; Brown, M Christian; Lee, Daniel J

2014-04-01

In an effort to improve the auditory brainstem implant, a prosthesis in which user outcomes are modest, we applied electric and infrared neural stimulation (INS) to the cochlear nucleus in a rat animal model. Electric stimulation evoked regions of neural activation in the inferior colliculus and short-latency, multipeaked auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). Pulsed INS, delivered to the surface of the cochlear nucleus via an optical fiber, evoked broad neural activation in the inferior colliculus. Strongest responses were recorded when the fiber was placed at lateral positions on the cochlear nucleus, close to the temporal bone. INS-evoked ABRs were multipeaked but longer in latency than those for electric stimulation; they resembled the responses to acoustic stimulation. After deafening, responses to electric stimulation persisted, whereas those to INS disappeared, consistent with a reported "optophonic" effect, a laser-induced acoustic artifact. Thus, for deaf individuals who use the auditory brainstem implant, INS alone did not appear promising as a new approach. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Auditory Responses to Electric and Infrared Neural Stimulation of the Rat Cochlear Nucleus

PubMed Central

Verma, Rohit; Guex, Amelie A.; Hancock, Kenneth E.; Durakovic, Nedim; McKay, Colette M.; Slama, Michaël C. C.; Brown, M. Christian; Lee, Daniel J.

2014-01-01

In an effort to improve the auditory brainstem implant, a prosthesis in which user outcomes are modest, we applied electric and infrared neural stimulation (INS) to the cochlear nucleus in a rat animal model. Electric stimulation evoked regions of neural activation in the inferior colliculus and short-latency, multipeaked auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). Pulsed INS, delivered to the surface of the cochlear nucleus via an optical fiber, evoked broad neural activation in the inferior colliculus. Strongest responses were recorded when the fiber was placed at lateral positions on the cochlear nucleus, close to the temporal bone. INS-evoked ABRs were multipeaked but longer in latency than those for electric stimulation; they resembled the responses to acoustic stimulation. After deafening, responses to electric stimulation persisted, whereas those to INS disappeared, consistent with a reported “optophonic” effect, a laser-induced acoustic artifact. Thus, for deaf individuals who use the auditory brainstem implant, INS alone did not appear promising as a new approach. PMID:24508368

Parvovirus particles and movement in the cellular cytoplasm and effects of the cytoskeleton

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

Lyi, Sangbom Michael; Tan, Min Jie Alvin, E-mail: tanmja@gis.a-star.edu.sg; Parrish, Colin R., E-mail: crp3@cornell.edu

2014-05-15

Cell infection by parvoviruses requires that capsids be delivered from outside the cell to the cytoplasm, followed by genome trafficking to the nucleus. Here we microinject capsids into cells that lack receptors and followed their movements within the cell over time. In general the capsids remained close to the positions where they were injected, and most particles did not move to the vicinity of or enter the nucleus. When 70 kDa-dextran was injected along with the capsids that did not enter the nucleus in significant amounts. Capsids conjugated to peptides containing the SV40 large T-antigen nuclear localization signal remained inmore » the cytoplasm, although bovine serum albumen conjugated to the same peptide entered the nucleus rapidly. No effects of disruption of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, or microtubules on the distribution of the capsids were observed. These results suggest that movement of intact capsids within cells is primarily associated with passive processes.« less

Observations of comet 19P/Borrelly by the miniature integrated camera and spectrometer aboard deep space 1

USGS Publications Warehouse

Soderblom, L.A.; Becker, T.L.; Bennett, G.; Boice, D.C.; Britt, D.T.; Brown, R.H.; Buratti, B.J.; Isbell, C.; Giese, B.; Hare, T.; Hicks, M.D.; Howington-Kraus, E.; Kirk, R.L.; Lee, M.; Nelson, R.M.; Oberst, J.; Owen, T.C.; Rayman, M.D.; Sandel, B.R.; Stern, S.A.; Thomas, N.; Yelle, R.V.

2002-01-01

The nucleus of the Jupiter-family comet 19P/Borrelly was closely observed by the Miniature Integrated Camera and Spectrometer aboard the Deep Space 1 spacecraft on 22 September 2001. The 8-kilometer-long body is highly variegated on a scale of 200 meters, exhibiting large albedo variations (0.01 to 0.03) and complex geologic relationships. Short-wavelength infrared spectra (1.3 to 2.6 micrometers) show a slope toward the red and a hot, dry surface (???345 kelvin, with no trace of water ice or hydrated minerals), consistent with ???10% or less of the surface actively sublimating. Borrelly's coma exhibits two types of dust features: fans and highly collimated jets. At encounter, the near-nucleus coma was dominated by a prominent dust jet that resolved into at least three smaller jets emanating from a broad basin in the middle of the nucleus. Because the major dust jet remained fixed in orientation, it is evidently aligned near the rotation axis of the nucleus.

The gamma-aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) receptor agonist baclofen inhibits morphine sensitization by decreasing the dopamine level in rat nucleus accumbens

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Repeated morphine exposure can induce behavioral sensitization. There are evidences have shown that central gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system is involved in morphine dependence. However, the effect of a GABAB receptor agonist baclofen on morphine-induced behavioral sensitization in rats is unclear. Methods We used morphine-induced behavioral sensitization model in rat to investigate the effects of baclofen on behavioral sensitization. Moreover, dopamine release in the shell of the nucleus accumbens was evaluated using microdialysis assay in vivo. Results The present study demonstrated that morphine challenge (3 mg/kg, s.c.) obviously enhanced the locomotor activity following 4-day consecutive morphine administration and 3-day withdrawal period, which indicated the expression of morphine sensitization. In addition, chronic treatment with baclofen (2.5, 5 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the development of morphine sensitization. It was also found that morphine challenge 3 days after repeated morphine administration produced a significant increase of extracellular dopamine release in nucleus accumbens. Furthermore, chronic treatment with baclofen decreased the dopamine release induced by morphine challenge. Conclusions Our results indicated that gamma-aminobutyric acid system plays an important role in the morphine sensitization in rat and suggested that behavioral sensitization is a promising model to study the mechanism underlying drug abuse. PMID:22559224

α1b-Adrenergic Receptor Localization and Relationship to the D1-Dopamine Receptor in the Rat Nucleus Accumbens.

PubMed

Mitrano, Darlene A; Jackson, Kelsey; Finley, Samantha; Seeley, Allison

2018-02-10

The α1-adrenergic receptors (α1ARs) have been implicated in numerous actions of the brain, including attention and wakefulness. Additionally, they have been identified as contributing to disorders of the brain, such as drug addiction, and recent work has shown a role of these receptors in relapse to psychostimulants. While some functionality is known, the actual subcellular localization of the subtypes of the α1ARs remains to be elucidated. Further, their anatomical relationship to receptors for other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine (DA), remains unclear. Therefore, using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy techniques, this study describes the subcellular localization of the α1b-adrenergic receptor (α1bAR), the subtype most tied to relapse behaviors, as well as its relationship to the D1-dopamine receptor (D1R) in both the shell and core of the rat nucleus accumbens (NAc). Overall, α1bARs were found in unmyelinated axons and axon terminals with some labeling in dendrites. In accordance with other studies of the striatum, the D1R was found mainly in dendrites and spines; therefore, colocalization of the D1R with the α1bAR was rare postsynaptically. However, in the NAc shell, when the receptors were co-expressed in the same neuronal elements there was a trend for both receptors to be found on the plasma membrane, as opposed to the intracellular compartment. This study provides valuable anatomical information about the α1bAR and its relationship to the D1R and the regulation of DA and norepinephrine (NE) neurotransmission in the brain which have been examined previously. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Expression of mRNAs encoding dopamine receptors in striatal regions is differentially regulated by midbrain and hippocampal neurons.

PubMed

Brené, S; Herrera-Marschitz, M; Persson, H; Lindefors, N

1994-02-01

The glutamate analogue kainic acid was injected into the hippocampus of intact or 6-hydroxydopamine deafferented rats to investigate the influence of hippocampal neurons on the expression of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor mRNAs in subregions of the striatal complex and possible modulation by dopaminergic neurons. Quantitative in situ hybridization using 35S-labeled oligonucleotide probes specific for dopamine D1 and D2 receptor mRNAs, respectively, were used. It was found that an injection of kainic acid into the hippocampal formation had alone no significant effect on dopamine D1 or D2 receptor mRNA levels in any of the analyzed striatal subregions in animals analyzed 4 h after the injections. Kainic acid stimulation in the hippocampus ipsilateral to the dopamine lesion produced an increase in D1 receptor mRNA levels in the ipsilateral medial caudate-putamen, and a bilateral increase in core and shell of nucleus accumbens (ventral striatal limbic regions). A unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion alone caused an increase in D2 receptor mRNA in the lateral caudate-putamen (dorsal striatal motor region) ipsilateral to the lesion and an increase in D1 receptor mRNA in the accumbens core ipsilateral to the lesion. However, in dopamine-lesioned animals, dopamine D1 receptor mRNA levels were increased bilaterally in nucleus accumbens core and shell and in the ipsilateral medial caudate-putamen following kainic acid stimulation in the hippocampus ipsilateral to the dopamine lesion. These results indicate a differential regulation of the expression of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor mRNAs by midbrain and hippocampal neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)