49 CFR 236.1021 - Discontinuances, material modifications, and amendments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... such as landslide, burned bridge, high water, high and wide load, or tunnel protection when the unusual... to provide protection against unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridges, high water...

49 CFR 235.7 - Changes not requiring filing of application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridge, high water, high and wide load, or tunnel... used to provide protection against unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridges, high water...

49 CFR 235.7 - Changes not requiring filing of application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridge, high water, high and wide load, or tunnel... used to provide protection against unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridges, high water...

49 CFR 236.1021 - Discontinuances, material modifications, and amendments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... such as landslide, burned bridge, high water, high and wide load, or tunnel protection when the unusual... to provide protection against unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridges, high water...

49 CFR 236.1021 - Discontinuances, material modifications, and amendments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... such as landslide, burned bridge, high water, high and wide load, or tunnel protection when the unusual... to provide protection against unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridges, high water...

49 CFR 235.7 - Changes not requiring filing of application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridge, high water, high and wide load, or tunnel... used to provide protection against unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridges, high water...

49 CFR 236.1021 - Discontinuances, material modifications, and amendments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... such as landslide, burned bridge, high water, high and wide load, or tunnel protection when the unusual... to provide protection against unusual contingencies such as landslide, burned bridges, high water...

Unusually large oilbodies are highly correlated with lower oil content in Brassica napus.

PubMed

Hu, Zhiyong; Wang, Xinfa; Zhan, Gaomiao; Liu, Guihua; Hua, Wei; Wang, Hanzhong

2009-04-01

Rapeseed cultivars exhibit a wide range of oil content in the mature seeds. Little is known about the relationship between the oilbody structures and the differences in oil contents of Brassica napus cultivars. In the present study, the oilbody morphology and its fate during the embryo development and seedling growth in several cultivars with oil contents ranging from 33.4 to 49.8% were studied. Cultivars with low oil contents (LO), some of the oilbodies were in similar size to those in cultivars with high oil content (HO), while some oilbodies in the LO cultivars were several times bigger (over 5.0 microm). These are much larger than the average size of B. napus seed oilbodies that were previously reported (Mantese et al. Ann Bot 97:999-1010, 2006). The oleosin protein levels and oleosin1 gene transcript abundances in the HO cultivars were clearly higher than in the LO cultivars. The shapes of oilbodies were similar during early stages of embryo development in both HO and LO cultivars, while as the embryos matured, the unusually large oilbodies were generated in the LO cells. After germination, the oilbodies in LO cultivars were consumed more slowly than in HO, and the seed germination rates of LO cultivars were less than those of HO cultivars. The low accumulation of oleosins results in the forming of unusually large oilbodies in LO cultivars.

Congenital jaundice in bovine aborted foetuses: an emerging syndrome in southern Belgium.

PubMed

Delooz, L; Mori, M; Petitjean, T; Evrard, J; Czaplicki, G; Saegerman, C

2015-04-01

Southern Belgium faces an unusual recent increase of icteric bovine aborted foetuses. In the necropsy room, the majority of foetuses presented jaundice and splenomegaly. Despite a wide range of analyses, no definitive cause of abortion has yet been established but some analysis results support the leptospirosis hypothesis. This first description of cases will help veterinary practitioners to recognize more cases and to conduct those to the laboratory for future investigations. © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Handbook of applied mathematics for engineers and scientists

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

Kurtz, M.

1991-12-31

This book is intended to be reference for applications of mathematics in a wide range of topics of interest to engineers and scientists. An unusual feature of this book is that it covers a large number of topics from elementary algebra, trigonometry, and calculus to computer graphics and cybernetics. The level of mathematics covers high school through about the junior level of an engineering curriculum in a major univeristy. Throughout, the emphasis is on applications of mathematics rather than on rigorous proofs.

Unusual tumour ablations: report of difficult and interesting cases.

PubMed

Mauri, Giovanni; Nicosia, Luca; Varano, Gianluca Maria; Shyn, Paul; Sartori, Sergio; Tombesi, Paola; Di Vece, Francesca; Orsi, Franco; Solbiati, Luigi

2017-01-01

Image-guided ablations are nowadays applied in the treatment of a wide group of diseases and in different organs and regions, and every day interventional radiologists have to face more difficult and unusual cases of tumour ablation. In the present case review, we report four difficult and unusual cases, reporting some tips and tricks for a successful image-guided treatment.

Electrochemical alkaline Fe(VI) water purification and remediation.

PubMed

Licht, Stuart; Yu, Xingwen

2005-10-15

Fe(VI) is an unusual and strongly oxidizing form of iron, which provides a potentially less hazardous water-purifying agent than chlorine. A novel on-line electrochemical Fe(VI) water purification methodology is introduced. Fe(VI) addition had been a barrier to its effective use in water remediation, because solid Fe(VI) salts require complex (costly) syntheses steps and solutions of Fe(VI) decompose. Online electrochemical Fe(VI) water purification avoids these limitations, in which Fe(VI) is directly prepared in solution from an iron anode as the FeO42- ion, and is added to the contaminant stream. Added FeO42- decomposes, by oxidizing a wide range of water contaminants including sulfides (demonstrated in this study) and other sulfur-containing compounds, cyanides (demonstrated in this study), arsenic (demonstrated in this study), ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (previously demonstrated), a wide range of organics (phenol demonstrated in this study), algae, and viruses (each previously demonstrated).

Adaptive and freeze-tolerant heteronetwork organohydrogels with enhanced mechanical stability over a wide temperature range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Hainan; Zhao, Ziguang; Cai, Yudong; Zhou, Jiajia; Hua, Wenda; Chen, Lie; Wang, Li; Zhang, Jianqi; Han, Dong; Liu, Mingjie; Jiang, Lei

2017-06-01

Many biological organisms with exceptional freezing tolerance can resist the damages to cells from extra-/intracellular ice crystals and thus maintain their mechanical stability at subzero temperatures. Inspired by the freezing tolerance mechanisms found in nature, here we report a strategy of combining hydrophilic/oleophilic heteronetworks to produce self-adaptive, freeze-tolerant and mechanically stable organohydrogels. The organohydrogels can simultaneously use water and oil as a dispersion medium, and quickly switch between hydrogel- and organogel-like behaviours in response to the nature of the surrounding phase. Accordingly, their surfaces display unusual adaptive dual superlyophobic in oil/water system (that is, they are superhydrophobic under oil and superoleophobic under water). Moreover, the organogel component can inhibit the ice crystallization of the hydrogel component, thus enhancing the mechanical stability of organohydrogel over a wide temperature range (-78 to 80 °C). The organohydrogels may have promising applications in complex and harsh environments.

Unusual behaviour of phototrophic picoplankton in turbid waters.

PubMed

Somogyi, Boglárka; Pálffy, Károly; V-Balogh, Katalin; Botta-Dukát, Zoltán; Vörös, Lajos

2017-01-01

Autotrophic picoplankton (APP) abundance and contribution to phytoplankton biomass was studied in Hungarian shallow lakes to test the effect of inorganic turbidity determining the size distribution of the phytoplankton. The studied lakes displayed wide turbidity (TSS: 4-2250 mg l-1) and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a: 1-460 μg l-1) range, as well as APP abundance (0 and 100 million cells ml-1) and contribution (0-100%) to total phytoplankton biomass. Inorganic turbidity had a significant effect on the abundance and contribution of APP, resulting in higher values compared to other freshwater lakes with the same phytoplankton biomass. Our analysis has provided empirical evidence for a switching point (50 mg l-1 inorganic turbidity), above which turbidity is the key factor causing APP predominance regardless of phytoplankton biomass in shallow turbid lakes. Our results have shown that turbid shallow lakes are unique waters, where the formerly and widely accepted model (decreasing APP contribution with increasing phytoplankton biomass) is not applicable. We hypothesize that this unusual behaviour of APP in turbid waters is a result of either diminished underwater light intensity or a reduced grazing pressure due to high inorganic turbidity.

Unusual behaviour of phototrophic picoplankton in turbid waters

PubMed Central

Pálffy, Károly; V. -Balogh, Katalin; Botta-Dukát, Zoltán; Vörös, Lajos

2017-01-01

Autotrophic picoplankton (APP) abundance and contribution to phytoplankton biomass was studied in Hungarian shallow lakes to test the effect of inorganic turbidity determining the size distribution of the phytoplankton. The studied lakes displayed wide turbidity (TSS: 4–2250 mg l-1) and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a: 1–460 μg l-1) range, as well as APP abundance (0 and 100 million cells ml-1) and contribution (0–100%) to total phytoplankton biomass. Inorganic turbidity had a significant effect on the abundance and contribution of APP, resulting in higher values compared to other freshwater lakes with the same phytoplankton biomass. Our analysis has provided empirical evidence for a switching point (50 mg l-1 inorganic turbidity), above which turbidity is the key factor causing APP predominance regardless of phytoplankton biomass in shallow turbid lakes. Our results have shown that turbid shallow lakes are unique waters, where the formerly and widely accepted model (decreasing APP contribution with increasing phytoplankton biomass) is not applicable. We hypothesize that this unusual behaviour of APP in turbid waters is a result of either diminished underwater light intensity or a reduced grazing pressure due to high inorganic turbidity. PMID:28346542

Can the fatty acid selectivity of plant lipases be predicted from the composition of the seed triglyceride?

PubMed

Hellyer, S A; Chandler, I C; Bosley, J A

1999-09-22

To address the question can the fatty acid selectivity of plant lipases be predicted from the composition of the seed triglyceride, we have characterised the selectivity of lipases from a wide range of oilseeds with diverse fatty acid compositions. For this study, a novel hydrolysis assay using a fully randomised oil, was developed. From some seed sources (e.g. Cinnamomum camphora), lipases show high preference for particular fatty acids, whilst from others (e.g. Brassica napus, Theobroma cacao80% saturated or 'unusual' fatty acids may contain lipases which exhibit selectivity. It therefore follows that since the majority of seeds are composed of unsaturated fatty acids, that highly selective lipases will be unusual in nature. However lipases from some species of the Cuphea genera show exceptionally high preference for particular fatty acids. For example, lipase from seeds of Cuphea procumbans has over 20-fold selectivity for C10:0.

New Horizons Very Best View of Pluto

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-12-05

This frame from a movie is composed of the sharpest views of Pluto that NASA's New Horizons spacecraft obtained during its flyby of the distant planet on July 14, 2015. The pictures are part of a sequence taken near New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto, with resolutions of about 250-280 feet (77-85 meters) per pixel -- revealing features smaller than half a city block on Pluto's diverse surface. The images include a wide variety of spectacular, cratered, mountainous and glacial terrains -- giving scientists and the public alike a breathtaking, super-high resolution window on Pluto's geology. The images form a strip 50 miles (80 kilometers) wide trending from Pluto's jagged horizon about 500 miles (800 kilometers) northwest of the informally named Sputnik Planum, across the al-Idrisi mountains, onto the shoreline of Sputnik Planum and then across its icy plains. They were made with the telescopic Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) aboard New Horizons, over a timespan of about a minute centered on 11:36 UT on July 14 -- just about 15 minutes before New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto -- from a range of just 10,000 miles (17,000 kilometers). They were obtained with an unusual observing mode; instead of working in the usual "point and shoot," LORRI snapped pictures every three seconds while the Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC) aboard New Horizons was scanning the surface. This mode requires unusually short exposures to avoid blurring the images. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20202

New Horizons Very Best View of Pluto Mosiac

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-12-05

This mosaic is composed of the sharpest views of Pluto that NASA's New Horizons spacecraft obtained during its flyby of the distant planet on July 14, 2015. The pictures are part of a sequence taken near New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto, with resolutions of about 250-280 feet (77-85 meters) per pixel -- revealing features smaller than half a city block on Pluto's diverse surface. The images include a wide variety of spectacular, cratered, mountainous and glacial terrains -- giving scientists and the public alike a breathtaking, super-high resolution window on Pluto's geology. The images form a strip 50 miles (80 kilometers) wide trending from Pluto's jagged horizon about 500 miles (800 kilometers) northwest of the informally named Sputnik Planum, across the al-Idrisi mountains, onto the shoreline of Sputnik Planum and then across its icy plains. They were made with the telescopic Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) aboard New Horizons, over a timespan of about a minute centered on 11:36 UT on July 14 -- just about 15 minutes before New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto -- from a range of just 10,000 miles (17,000 kilometers). They were obtained with an unusual observing mode; instead of working in the usual "point and shoot," LORRI snapped pictures every three seconds while the Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC) aboard New Horizons was scanning the surface. This mode requires unusually short exposures to avoid blurring the images. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20201

A Highly Stable Porphyrinic Zirconium Metal–Organic Framework with shp-a Topology

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

Feng, Dawei; Gu, Zhi-Yuan; Chen, Ying-Pin

2014-12-24

Through a kinetically controlled synthetic process, we synthesized PCN-223, a new porphyrinic Zr-MOF constructed from the newly reported hexagonal prismatic 12-connected Zr6 cluster through an unusual disordered arrangement, giving rise to the first example of the shp-a network in MOFs. With its extremely high connectivity, PCN-223 shows high stability in aqueous solutions with a wide range of pH. Cationic PCN-223(Fe) formed by postsynthetic treatment is an excellent recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the hetero-Diels–Alder reaction.

Physangulidines A, B, and C: three new antiproliferative withanolides from Physalis angulata L.

PubMed

Jin, Zhuang; Mashuta, Mark S; Stolowich, Neal J; Vaisberg, Abraham J; Stivers, Nicole S; Bates, Paula J; Lewis, Walter H; Hammond, Gerald B

2012-03-02

Bioassay-directed fractionation of the whole plant of Physalis angulata L. afforded three new antiproliferative withanolides with an unusual carbon framework: physangulidines A (1), B (2), and C (3). Structures of the three isomeric withanolides were determined by a combination of HRMS, NMR spectroscopic, and X-ray crystallographic methods. Each has shown significant antiproliferative activity against DU145 prostate cancer cells. Physangulidine A (1) was further tested against a wide range of additional cancer cell lines and found to exhibit significant antiproliferative activity. © 2012 American Chemical Society

ARC-1979-AC79-7003

NASA Image and Video Library

1979-03-04

Europa , the smallest of the Galilean satellites, or Moons , of Jupiter , is seen here as taken by Voyager 1. Range : 2 million km (1.2 million miles) is centered at about the 300 degree Meridian. The bright areas are probably ice deposits, while the dark may be rocky surface or areas of more patchy ice distribution. Most unusual features are systems of linear structures crossing the surface in various directions. Of these, some of which are over 1000 km. long , & 2 or 3 hundred km. wide, may be faults which have disrupted the surface.

Aerogel: Tile Composites Toughen a Brittle Superinsulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, Susan; Rasky, Daniel; Arnold, James O. (Technical Monitor)

1998-01-01

Pure aerogels, though familiar in the laboratory for decades as exotic lightweight insulators with unusual physical properties, have had limited industrial applications due to their low strength and high brittleness. Composites formed of aerogels and the ceramic fiber matrices like those used as space shuttle tiles bypass the fragility of pure aerogels and can enhance the performance of space shuttle tiles in their harsh operating environment. Using a layer of aerogel embedded in a tile may open up a wide range of applications where thermal insulation, gas convection control and mechanical strength matter.

Aerogel: Tile Composites Toughen a Brittle Superinsulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, Susan; Rasky, Daniel; Arnold, James O. (Technical Monitor)

1998-01-01

Pure aerogels, though familiar in the laboratory for decades as exotic lightweight insulators with unusual physical properties, have had limited industrial applications due to their low strength and high brittleness. Composites formed of aerogels and the ceramic fiber matrices used as space shuttle tiles bypass the fragility of pure aerogels and can enhance the performance of space shuttle tiles in their harsh operating environment. Using a layer of aerogel embedded in a tile may open up a wide range of applications where thermal insulation, gas convection control and mechanical strength matter.

Adsorption of hydrophobin/β-casein mixtures at the solid-liquid interface.

PubMed

Tucker, I M; Petkov, J T; Penfold, J; Thomas, R K; Cox, A R; Hedges, N

2016-09-15

The adsorption behaviour of mixtures of the proteins β-casein and hydrophobin at the hydrophilic solid-liquid surface have been studied by neutron reflectivity. The results of measurements from sequential adsorption and co-adsorption from solution are contrasted. The adsorption properties of protein mixtures are important for a wide range of applications. Because of competing factors the adsorption behaviour of protein mixtures at interfaces is often difficult to predict. This is particularly true for mixtures containing hydrophobin as hydrophobin possesses some unusual surface properties. At β-casein concentrations ⩾0.1wt% β-casein largely displaces a pre-adsorbed layer of hydrophobin at the interface, similar to that observed in hydrophobin-surfactant mixtures. In the composition and concentration range studied here for the co-adsorption of β-casein-hydrophobin mixtures the adsorption is dominated by the β-casein adsorption. The results provide an important insight into how the competitive adsorption in protein mixtures of hydrophobin and β-casein can impact upon the modification of solid surface properties and the potential for a wide range of colloid stabilisation applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A cell stabilization factor for transport of experimental cell cultures to and from the International Space Station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fattaey, Heideh K.; Consigli, Richard A.; Grenz, Ladonna; Johnson, Terry C.

2000-01-01

The requirement for long term storage of cell cultures previous to arrival on the International Space Station (ISS), as well as culture maintenance after the conduct of experiment in microgravity, necessitates inhibition of cell proliferation and metabolism pending return to earth-based laboratories. Transport of cells in a nonstabilized condition can lead to a loss of cell viability and/or a source of selection pressures for survival that can alter the overall cell population. We have isolated in our laboratory a reversible inhibitor of cell proliferation, a cell regulatory sialoglycopeptide (CeReS-18), that has the capability of stabilizing cells isolated from a wide phylogenetic range by arresting them in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. We show here that CeReS-18 is unusually stable and can be stored at ambient temperatures for weeks without a measurable loss in its biological activity. In addition we demonstrate that CeReS-18 is a superior cell-stabilizing agent as compared to other methods deployed for cell stabilization purposes, such as, decrease in the incubation temperature and serum down shifts. We also discovered that hybridoma cultures stabilized in their proliferative cycle by CeReS-18 produced 150%-300% more antibody per cell than that measured in the proliferating control cultures. The reversible inhibitory activity of CeReS-18, together with its unusual stability, as well as its wide target range lend themselves to use of this inhibitor as a cell stabilizing agent for cell transport to and storage on the ISS. .

Bulk chemical compositions of Antarctic meteorites in the NIPR collection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kimura, M.; Imae, N.; Yamaguchi, A.; Haramura, H.; Kojima, H.

2018-03-01

Bulk chemical compositions of meteorites were traditionally analyzed by wet chemical analysis, and NIPR has data for 1162 meteorites as of September 2017. We discuss the classification of meteorites on the basis of these data. Chondrite data are distributed in an anomalously wide range of compositions on the Urey-Craig diagram. One of the reasons for such wide distribution is terrestrial weathering producing Fe2O3-bearing phases from Fe-Ni metal and sulfides. Another important factor affecting the bulk compositional data is brecciation. Our observations indicate that many brecciated chondrites contain anomalously abundant opaque minerals, or are depleted in them, resulting in unusual compositions. In case of enstatite and some carbonaceous chondrites, the bulk compositions are distributed in wider ranges than reported before. The bulk compositions of HED meteorites are consistent with their mineralogy and classification. Our study suggests that wet chemical data are still significant for the meteorite classification. However, petrographic observation is indispensable for evaluating the bulk chemistry and classification of meteorites.

Landslides and liquefaction triggered by the M 7.9 denali fault earthquake of 3 November 2002

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harp, E.L.; Jibson, R.W.; Kayen, R.E.; Keefer, D.K.; Sherrod, B.L.; Carver, G.A.; Collins, B.D.; Moss, R.E.S.; Sitar, N.

2003-01-01

The moment magnitude (M) 7.9 Denali Fault earthquake in Alaska of 3 November 2002 triggered an unusual pattern of landslides and liquefaction effects. The landslides were primarily rock falls and rock slides that ranged in volume from a few cubic meters to the 40 million-cubic-meter rock avalanche that covered much of the McGinnis Glacier. Landslides were concentrated in a narrow zone ???30 km wide that straddled the fault rupture zone over its entire 300 km length. Large rock avalanches all clustered at the western end of the rupture zone where acceleration levels are reported to have been the highest. Liquefaction effects, consisting of sand blows, lateral spreads, and settlement, were widespread within susceptible alluvial deposits extending from Fairbanks eastward several hundred kilometers. The liquefaction effects displayed a pattern of increasing concentration and severity from west to east and extended well beyond the zone of landslides, which is unusual. The contrasting patterns formed by the distributions of landslides and liquefaction effects initially seemed to be inconsistent; however, preliminary analyses of strong-motion records from the earthquake offer a possible explanation for the unusual ground-failure patterns that are related to three subevents that have been discerned from the earthquake records.

The pseudogap and the unusual excitations in the optical conductivity of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhuiyan, E. H.; Azzouz, M.

2017-12-01

We studied the optical conductivity of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ material as a function of temperature and doping within the Rotating Antiferromagnetism Theory (RAFT). The optical conductivity of the material is studied from underdoped to overdoped regime for a wide range of temperatures. We mainly focused on the pseudogap state and unusual excitations in the optical conductivity. The former is realized in the underdoped to optimally doped regimes below a characteristic temperature T*, a temperature that can appreciably exceed the superconducting transition temperature TC. The latter is appeared in the optical conductivity spectra below the TC and we studied it by varying temperature. The pseudogap response is explored by changing the doping level and by varying the temperature from above to below T*. The results obtained from theories are compared with available experimental data and found a good agreement with those experimental results.

Embolia cutis medicamentosa: an unusual adverse reaction to terlipressin

PubMed Central

Gatos-Gatopoulos, Polychronis; Kostantoudakis, Stephanos; Panayiotides, Ioannis G.; Dimitriadis, George D.; Triantafyllou, Konstantinos

2017-01-01

Terlipressin is a synthetic long-acting analog of vasopressin widely used to control variceal bleeding by lowering portal venous pressure. We report an unusual adverse reaction to terlipressin in a 78-year-old patient with esophageal variceal bleeding who developed skin necrosis soon after treatment initiation. Skin biopsy revealed embolia cutis medicamentosa. PMID:29118569

PubMed Central

MAGGI, LORENZO; SALERNO, FRANCO; BRAGATO, CINZIA; SAREDI, SIMONA; BLASEVICH, FLAVIA; MACCAGNANO, ELIO; PASANISI, BARBARA; DANESINO, CESARE; MORA, MARINA; MORANDI, LUCIA

2013-01-01

The adult-onset form of Pompe disease had a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic patients with increased CK to muscle cramps and pain syndrome or rigid-spine syndrome. In addition clinical severity and disease progression are greatly variable. We report on a family with 3 siblings characterized by an unusual adult-onset Pompe disease including dysphagia and weakness of tongue, axial and limb-girdle muscles, in association with atypical globular inclusions in muscle fibres. Our study confirms the great clinical and histological variability of adult-onset Pompe disease and further supports the need of careful evaluation of bulbar function in patients affected by this pathology. PMID:24399864

Photographer : JPL Europa , the smallest of the Galilean satellites, or Moons , of Jupiter , is seen

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

Photographer : JPL Europa , the smallest of the Galilean satellites, or Moons , of Jupiter , is seen here as taken by Voyager 1. Range : 2 million km (1.2 million miles) is centered at about the 300 degree Meridian. The bright areas are probably ice deposits, while the dark may be rocky surface or areas of more patchy ice distribution. Most unusual features are systems of linear structures crossing the surface in various directions. Of these, some of which are over 1000 km. long , & 2 or 3 hundred km. wide, may be faults which have disrupted the surface.

Automated Portable Test (APT) System: overview and prospects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bittner, A. C.; Smith, M. G.; Kennedy, R. S.; Staley, C. F.; Harbeson, M. M.

1985-01-01

The Automated Portable Test (APT) System is a notebook-sized, computer-based, human-performance and subjective-status assessment system. It is now being used in a wide range of environmental studies (e.g., simulator aftereffects, flight tests, drug effects, and hypoxia). Three questionnaires and 15 performance tests have been implemented, and the adaptation of 30 more tests is underway or is planned. The APT System is easily transportable, is inexpensive, and has the breadth of expansion options required for field and laboratory applications. The APT System is a powerful and expandable tool for human assessment in remote and unusual environments.

Radio observations of GRB 100418a: Test of an energy injection model explaining long-lasting GRB afterglows

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

Moin, A.; Wang, Z.; Chandra, P.

We present the results of our radio observational campaign of gamma-ray burst (GRB) 100418a, for which we used the Australia Telescope Compact Array, the Very Large Array, and the Very Long Baseline Array. GRB 100418a was a peculiar GRB with unusual X-ray and optical afterglow profiles featuring a plateau phase with a very shallow rise. This observed plateau phase was believed to be due to a continued energy injection mechanism that powered the forward shock, giving rise to an unusual and long-lasting afterglow. The radio afterglow of GRB 100418a was detectable several weeks after the prompt emission. We conducted long-termmore » monitoring observations of the afterglow and attempted to test the energy injection model advocating that the continuous energy injection is due to shells of material moving at a wide range of Lorentz factors. We obtained an upper limit of γ < 7 for the expansion rate of the GRB 100418a radio afterglow, indicating that the range-of-Lorentz factor model could only be applicable for relatively slow-moving ejecta. A preferred explanation could be that continued activity of the central engine may have powered the long-lasting afterglow.« less

Healthy animals, healthy people: zoonosis risk from animal contact in pet shops, a systematic review of the literature.

PubMed

Halsby, Kate D; Walsh, Amanda L; Campbell, Colin; Hewitt, Kirsty; Morgan, Dilys

2014-01-01

Around 67 million pets are owned by households in the United Kingdom, and an increasing number of these are exotic animals. Approximately a third of pets are purchased through retail outlets or direct from breeders. A wide range of infections can be associated with companion animals. This study uses a systematic literature review to describe the transmission of zoonotic disease in humans associated with a pet shop or other location selling pets (incidents of rabies tracebacks and zoonoses from pet food were excluded). PubMed and EMBASE. Fifty seven separate case reports or incidents were described in the 82 papers that were identified by the systematic review. Summary information on each incident is included in this manuscript. The infections include bacterial, viral and fungal diseases and range in severity from mild to life threatening. Infections associated with birds and rodents were the most commonly reported. Over half of the reports describe incidents in the Americas, and three of these were outbreaks involving more than 50 cases. Many of the incidents identified relate to infections in pet shop employees. This review may have been subject to publication bias, where unusual and unexpected zoonotic infections may be over-represented in peer-reviewed publications. It was also restricted to English-language articles so that pathogens that are more common in non-Western countries, or in more exotic animals not common in Europe and the Americas, may have been under-represented. A wide spectrum of zoonotic infections are acquired from pet shops. Salmonellosis and psittacosis were the most commonly documented diseases, however more unusual infections such as tularemia also appeared in the review. Given their potential to spread zoonotic infection, it is important that pet shops act to minimise the risk as far as possible.

Multiconfigurational nature of 5f orbitals in uranium and plutonium intermetallics

PubMed Central

Booth, C.H.; Jiang, Yu; Wang, D.L.; Mitchell, J.N.; Tobash, P.H.; Bauer, E.D.; Wall, M.A.; Allen, P.G.; Sokaras, D.; Nordlund, D.; Weng, T.-C.; Torrez, M.A.; Sarrao, J.L.

2012-01-01

Uranium and plutonium’s 5f electrons are tenuously poised between strongly bonding with ligand spd-states and residing close to the nucleus. The unusual properties of these elements and their compounds (e.g., the six different allotropes of elemental plutonium) are widely believed to depend on the related attributes of f-orbital occupancy and delocalization for which a quantitative measure is lacking. By employing resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy (RXES) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and making comparisons to specific heat measurements, we demonstrate the presence of multiconfigurational f-orbital states in the actinide elements U and Pu and in a wide range of uranium and plutonium intermetallic compounds. These results provide a robust experimental basis for a new framework toward understanding the strongly-correlated behavior of actinide materials. PMID:22706643

Unusual electro-optical behavior in a wide-temperature BPIII cell.

PubMed

Chen, Hui-Yu; Lu, Sheng-Feng; Hsieh, Yi-Chun

2013-04-22

A low driving voltage and fast response blue phase III (BPIII) liquid-crystal device with very low dielectric anisotropy is demonstrated. To stabilize BPIII in a wide temperature range (> 15°C), a chiral molecule with good solubility was chosen. By studying field-dependent polarization state of the transmitting light, it was found that the field-induced birefringence becomes saturated in the high field. However, the transmitting intensity exhibits a tendency to increase as the electric field increases. This indicates that the electro-optical behavior in BPIII device may be from the flexoelectric effect, which induces tilted optical axis and then induces birefringence. Because the phase transition from BPIII to chiral nematic phase does not happen, the device shows no hysteresis effect and no residual birefringence, exhibits fast response, and can be a candidate for fast photonic application.

Breast reconstruction of an unusual configuration using two paranemic implants.

PubMed

Ishii, Naohiro; Ando, Jiro; Harao, Michiko; Takemae, Masaru

2017-12-01

Implant-based breast reconstruction can be performed using a choice of various types of breast implants. However, cases where the breast shapes are unsuitable for implant-based reconstruction method are occasionally encountered. We present two patients with wide trunks who underwent breast reconstruction using an unusual configuration that involved a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap combined with two paranemic implants.

Comparison of the distribution of large magmatic centers on Earth, Venus, and Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crumpler, L. S.

1993-01-01

Volcanism is widely distributed over the surfaces of the major terrestrial planets: Venus, Earth, and Mars. Anomalous centers of magmatic activity occur on each planet and are characterized by evidence for unusual concentrations of volcanic centers, long-lived activity, unusual rates of effusion, extreme size of volcanic complexes, compositionally unusual magmatism, and evidence for complex geological development. The purpose of this study is to compare the characteristics and distribution of these magmatic anomalies on Earth, Venus, and Mars in order to assess these characteristics as they may relate to global characteristics and evolution of the terrestrial planets.

PHOTOPERIODIC BEHAVIOR OF SUNFLOWER

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

Dyer, H.J.; Skok, J.; Scully, N.J.

1959-09-01

S>The sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., var. Mammoth Russian, has been shown to be a short-day type plant. It will, however, flower under a wide range of photoperiodic conditions, including excessively long days (as long as 20 hours) and a regime in which the daily dark periods are interrupted by 1-hour light periods if it be permitted to grow for a sufficiently long period. Short photoperiods promote flowering both by hastening the initiation of flower primordia and by hastening the development of primordia into macroscropic floral structures. Interruption of the dark periods by light is effective in inhibiting both the initiationmore » of flower primordia as well as the development of primordia into macroscopic floral structures. Sunflower thus exhibits a wide range of photoperiodic conditions under which flowering may take place plus an unusual variability in the time of flowering among individual plants in a given population. This may be related to the phenomenon pointed out by Habermann and Wallace: that a certain maturation requiremert or vegetative growth requirement for flowering must be met before flowering can occur. Stem elongation in sunflower is favored by long photoperiods. (auth)« less

A Sm-Nd and Pb isotope study of Archaean greenstone belts in the southern Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, A. H.; Carlson, R. W.

1989-01-01

An Sm-Nd and Pb study on a wide variety of lithologies in Archaean greenstone belt fragments in the southern Kaapvaal Craton reveals a complex petrogenetic history. The fragments are important because they represent a 350 km transect through the craton south of Barberton to its southern margin. The Commondale greenstone belt yields a precise Sm-Nd age of 3334 + or - 18 Ma on an exceptionally well preserved peridotite suite of komatiitic affinity. The wide range of Sm/Nd from 0.6 to 1.0 is attributed to the unusual occurrence of orthopyroxene in the spinifex-bearing rocks. A considerably younger age of about 3.2 Ga is suggested for the Nondweni greenstone belt close to the southern margin of the craton on the basis of separate Sm-Nd isochrons on individual lithologies ranging from komatiite, through komatiitic basalt and basalt to felsic volcanic rocks. On the basis of the present study the greenstone belts appear to have been emplaced at progressively younger ages toward the southern margin of the craton.

Hoberman-sphere-inspired lattice metamaterials with tunable negative thermal expansion

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

Li, Yangbo; Chen, Yanyu; Li, Tiantian

Materials with engineered thermal expansion coefficients, capable of avoiding failure or irreversible destruction of structures and devices, are important for aerospace, civil, biomedical, optics, and semiconductor applications. In natural materials, thermal expansion usually cannot be adjusted easily and a negative thermal expansion coefficient is still uncommon. Here we propose a novel architected lattice bi-material system, inspired by the Hoberman sphere, showing a wide range of tunable thermal expansion coefficient from negative to positive, -1.04 x 10 -3 degrees C-1 to 1.0 x 10 -5 degrees C-1. Numerical simulations and analytical formulations are implemented to quantify the evolution of the thermalmore » expansion coefficients and reveal the underlying mechanisms responsible for this unusual behavior. We show that the thermal expansion coefficient of the proposed metamaterials depends on the thermal expansion coefficient ratio and the axial stiffness ratio of the constituent materials, as well as the bending stiffness and the topological arrangement of the constitutive elements. The finding reported here provides a new routine to design architected metamaterial systems with tunable negative thermal expansion for a wide range of potential applications.« less

Hoberman-sphere-inspired lattice metamaterials with tunable negative thermal expansion

DOE PAGES

Li, Yangbo; Chen, Yanyu; Li, Tiantian; ...

2018-02-02

Materials with engineered thermal expansion coefficients, capable of avoiding failure or irreversible destruction of structures and devices, are important for aerospace, civil, biomedical, optics, and semiconductor applications. In natural materials, thermal expansion usually cannot be adjusted easily and a negative thermal expansion coefficient is still uncommon. Here we propose a novel architected lattice bi-material system, inspired by the Hoberman sphere, showing a wide range of tunable thermal expansion coefficient from negative to positive, -1.04 x 10 -3 degrees C-1 to 1.0 x 10 -5 degrees C-1. Numerical simulations and analytical formulations are implemented to quantify the evolution of the thermalmore » expansion coefficients and reveal the underlying mechanisms responsible for this unusual behavior. We show that the thermal expansion coefficient of the proposed metamaterials depends on the thermal expansion coefficient ratio and the axial stiffness ratio of the constituent materials, as well as the bending stiffness and the topological arrangement of the constitutive elements. The finding reported here provides a new routine to design architected metamaterial systems with tunable negative thermal expansion for a wide range of potential applications.« less

Hierarchical honeycomb auxetic metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mousanezhad, Davood; Babaee, Sahab; Ebrahimi, Hamid; Ghosh, Ranajay; Hamouda, Abdelmagid Salem; Bertoldi, Katia; Vaziri, Ashkan

2015-12-01

Most conventional materials expand in transverse directions when they are compressed uniaxially resulting in the familiar positive Poisson’s ratio. Here we develop a new class of two dimensional (2D) metamaterials with negative Poisson’s ratio that contract in transverse directions under uniaxial compressive loads leading to auxeticity. This is achieved through mechanical instabilities (i.e., buckling) introduced by structural hierarchy and retained over a wide range of applied compression. This unusual behavior is demonstrated experimentally and analyzed computationally. The work provides new insights into the role of structural organization and hierarchy in designing 2D auxetic metamaterials, and new opportunities for developing energy absorbing materials, tunable membrane filters, and acoustic dampeners.

From idiopathic diabetes insipidus to neurodegenerative Langerhans cell histiocytosis--an unusual presentation and progression of disease.

PubMed

Hayward, Rachel M; Nicolin, Gary; Kennedy, Charles; Joy, Harriet; Davies, Justin H

2011-01-01

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is rare in childhood and has a wide-ranging aetiology including the involvement of uncontrolled proliferation of dendritic cells in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, characteristic of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). DI may manifest as a sequela of multisystem LCH disease involving skin, bone, liver, spleen and lymph nodes. In very rare cases patients diagnosed with LCH exhibit neurodegenerative changes, such as severe ataxia, tremor, dysarthria and intellectual impairment. We report a 2 1/2-year-old boy who presented initially with apparent idiopathic DI, developed anterior pituitary hormone deficiency and progressive neurological deterioration secondary to neurodegenerative LCH.

Strong field-matching effects in superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-δ films with vortex energy landscapes engineered via masked ion irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swiecicki, I.; Ulysse, C.; Wolf, T.; Bernard, R.; Bergeal, N.; Briatico, J.; Faini, G.; Lesueur, J.; Villegas, Javier E.

2012-06-01

We have developed a masked ion irradiation technique to engineer the energy landscape for vortices in oxide superconductors. This approach associates the possibility to design the landscape geometry at the nanoscale with the unique capability to adjust the depth of the energy wells for vortices. This enabled us to unveil the key role of vortex channeling in modulating the amplitude of the field matching effects with the artificial energy landscape, and to make the latter govern flux dynamics over an unusually wide range of temperatures and applied fields for high-temperature superconducting films.

Solubilization and other studies on adenylate cyclase of baker's yeast.

PubMed Central

Varimo, K; Londesborough, J

1976-01-01

1. Adenylate cyclase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was sedimented from mechanically disintegrated preparations of yeast over an unusually wide range of centrifugal forces. 2. The enzyme was readily solubilized by Ficoll and by Lubrol PX. Lubrol caused a 2-fold activation. 3. Both particle-bound and Lubrol-solubilized enzyme had an apparent Km for ATP of 1.6 mM in the presence of 0.4 mM-cyclic AMP and 5 mM-MnCl2 at pH 6.2 and 30 degrees C. 4. The Lubrol-solubilized enzyme behaved on gel filtration as a monodisperse protein with an apparent mol.wt. of about 450000. PMID:793584

New trends in chemistry and materials science in extremely tight space

DOE PAGES

Song, Yang; Manaa, M. Riad

2012-01-26

Pressure plays a critical role in regulating the structures and properties of materials. Since Percy Bridgeman was recognized by the 1946 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contribution in high-pressure physics, high-pressure research has remained an interdisciplinary scientific frontier with many extraordinary breakthroughs. Over the past decade or so, in particular, high-pressure chemistry and materials research has undergone major advances with the discovery of numerous exotic structures and properties. Furthermore, brand new classes of inorganic materials of unusual stoichiometries and crystal structures, which have a wide range of optical, mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties, have been produced at high pressures.

Unusual antigen presentation offers new insight into HIV vaccine design.

PubMed

McMichael, Andrew J; Picker, Louis J

2017-06-01

Recent findings with a rhesus monkey cytomegalovirus based simian immunodeficiency virus vaccine have identified strong CD8+ T cell responses that are restricted by MHC-E. Also mycobacteria specific CD8+ T cells, that are MHC-E restricted, have been identified. MHC-E therefore can present a wide range of epitope peptides to CD8+ T cells, alongside its well defined role in presenting a conserved MHC-class I signal peptide to the NKG2A/C-CD94 receptor on natural killer cells. Here we explore the antigen processing pathways involved in these atypical T cell responses. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New trends in chemistry and materials science in extremely tight space

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

Song, Yang; Manaa, M. Riad

Pressure plays a critical role in regulating the structures and properties of materials. Since Percy Bridgeman was recognized by the 1946 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contribution in high-pressure physics, high-pressure research has remained an interdisciplinary scientific frontier with many extraordinary breakthroughs. Over the past decade or so, in particular, high-pressure chemistry and materials research has undergone major advances with the discovery of numerous exotic structures and properties. Furthermore, brand new classes of inorganic materials of unusual stoichiometries and crystal structures, which have a wide range of optical, mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties, have been produced at high pressures.

Schizophrenia and the structure of language: the linguist's view.

PubMed

Covington, Michael A; He, Congzhou; Brown, Cati; Naçi, Lorina; McClain, Jonathan T; Fjordbak, Bess Sirmon; Semple, James; Brown, John

2005-09-01

Patients with schizophrenia often display unusual language impairments. This is a wide ranging critical review of the literature on language in schizophrenia since the 19th century. We survey schizophrenic language level by level, from phonetics through phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. There are at least two kinds of impairment (perhaps not fully distinct): thought disorder, or failure to maintain a discourse plan, and schizophasia, comprising various dysphasia-like impairments such as clanging, neologism, and unintelligible utterances. Thought disorder appears to be primarily a disruption of executive function and pragmatics, perhaps with impairment of the syntax-semantics interface; schizophasia involves disruption at other levels. Phonetics is also often abnormal (manifesting as flat intonation or unusual voice quality), but phonological structure, morphology, and syntax are normal or nearly so (some syntactic impairments have been demonstrated). Access to the lexicon is clearly impaired, manifesting as stilted speech, word approximation, and neologism. Clanging (glossomania) is straightforwardly explainable as distraction by self-monitoring. Recent research has begun to relate schizophrenia, which is partly genetic, to the genetic endowment that makes human language possible.

Topological mechanics: from metamaterials to active matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitelli, Vincenzo

2015-03-01

Mechanical metamaterials are artificial structures with unusual properties, such as negative Poisson ratio, bistability or tunable acoustic response, which originate in the geometry of their unit cell. At the heart of such unusual behavior is often a mechanism: a motion that does not significantly stretch or compress the links between constituent elements. When activated by motors or external fields, these soft motions become the building blocks of robots and smart materials. In this talk, we discuss topological mechanisms that possess two key properties: (i) their existence cannot be traced to a local imbalance between degrees of freedom and constraints (ii) they are robust against a wide range of structural deformations or changes in material parameters. The continuum elasticity of these mechanical structures is captured by non-linear field theories with a topological boundary term similar to topological insulators and quantum Hall systems. We present several applications of these concepts to the design and experimental realization of 2D and 3D topological structures based on linkages, origami, buckling meta-materials and lastly active media that break time-reversal symmetry.

Diblock copolymers of polystyrene- b-poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene) exhibiting unique three-phase microdomain morphologies

DOE PAGES

Misichronis, Konstantinos; Chen, Jihua; Kahk, Jong K.; ...

2016-03-29

Here, the synthesis and molecular characterization of a series of conformationally asymmetric polystyrene-block-poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene) (PS- b-PCHD) diblock copolymers (PCHD: ~90% 1,4 and ~10% 1,2), by sequential anionic copolymerization high vacuum techniques, is reported. A wide range of volume fractions (0.27 ≤ Φ PS ≤ 0.91) was studied by transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering in order to explore in detail the microphase separation behavior of these flexible/semiflexible diblock copolymers. Unusual morphologies, consisting of PCHD core(PCHD-1,4)–shell(PCHD-1,2) cylinders in PS matrix and three-phase (PS, PCHD-1,4, PCHD-1,2) four-layer lamellae, were observed suggesting that the chain stiffness of the PCHD block and the strongmore » dependence of the interaction parameter χ on the PCHD microstructures are important factors for the formation of this unusual microphase separation behavior in PS- b-PCHD diblock copolymers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1564–1572« less

Phase diagram of the Shastry-Sutherland Kondo lattice model with classical localized spins: a variational calculation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahzad, Munir; Sengupta, Pinaki

2017-08-01

We study the Shastry-Sutherland Kondo lattice model with additional Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interactions, exploring the possible magnetic phases in its multi-dimensional parameter space. Treating the local moments as classical spins and using a variational ansatz, we identify the parameter ranges over which various common magnetic orderings are potentially stabilized. Our results reveal that the competing interactions result in a heightened susceptibility towards a wide range of spin configurations including longitudinal ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic order, coplanar flux configurations and most interestingly, multiple non-coplanar configurations including a novel canted-flux state as the different Hamiltonian parameters like electron density, interaction strengths and degree of frustration are varied. The non-coplanar and non-collinear magnetic ordering of localized spins behave like emergent electromagnetic fields and drive unusual transport and electronic phenomena.

2. GORGE HIGH DAM. UNUSUALLY HIGH WATER IN GORGE LAKE ...

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

2. GORGE HIGH DAM. UNUSUALLY HIGH WATER IN GORGE LAKE DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF UNIT 24 BEING DOWN FOR REWINDING AND TWO UNITS COMING ON LINE UNEXPECTEDLY AT ROSS POWERHOUSE LED TO WATER FLOWING OVER THE SPILLGATES. EACH GATE IF 47 FEET WIDE AND 50 FEET HIGH, 1989. - Skagit Power Development, Gorge High Dam, On Skagit River, 2.9 miles upstream from Newhalem, Newhalem, Whatcom County, WA

Renal cell carcinoma in children and young adults: analysis of clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics with an emphasis on the spectrum of Xp11.2 translocation-associated and unusual clear cell subtypes.

PubMed

Wu, A; Kunju, L P; Cheng, L; Shah, R B

2008-11-01

Recent studies suggest that paediatric renal cell carcinoma (RCC) may represent a distinct group of tumours; however, its biological behaviour and classification remain poorly understood. The aim was to analyse 13 RCCs from patients < or =23 years of age to determine their clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics. The histological spectrum included: Xp11.2 translocation-associated (6/13 patients, 46%), clear cell (5/13 patients, 38%), papillary (1/13 patients) and unclassified (1/13 patients) types. The Xp11.2 translocation-associated RCCs had a wide morphological spectrum, with high nuclear grade cells with abundant cytoplasm ranging from clear to granular and architecture ranging from solid to papillary. These tumours lacked cytokeratin expression and were confirmed by nuclear reactivity for TFE3 protein. Most of these translocation-associated tumours presented at high stage and had an unfavourable outcome. Three clear cell RCCs had unusual features that have not been previously characterized, including solid and cystic architecture, cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm yet low nuclear grade and focal cytoplasmic inclusions, resembling oncocytoma. Deletion of subtelomeric 3p25 was observed in two of these RCCs. Xp11.2 translocation-associated RCC represents a predominant and aggressive subtype in the paediatric age group. Increased awareness of this subtype is important due to its heterogeneous morphology.

Three-Dimensional Multiscale, Multistable, and Geometrically Diverse Microstructures with Tunable Vibrational Dynamics Assembled by Compressive Buckling.

PubMed

Ning, Xin; Wang, Heling; Yu, Xinge; Soares, Julio A N T; Yan, Zheng; Nan, Kewang; Velarde, Gabriel; Xue, Yeguang; Sun, Rujie; Dong, Qiyi; Luan, Haiwen; Lee, Chan Mi; Chempakasseril, Aditya; Han, Mengdi; Wang, Yiqi; Li, Luming; Huang, Yonggang; Zhang, Yihui; Rogers, John

2017-04-11

Microelectromechanical systems remain an area of significant interest in fundamental and applied research due to their wide ranging applications. Most device designs, however, are largely two-dimensional and constrained to only a few simple geometries. Achieving tunable resonant frequencies or broad operational bandwidths requires complex components and/or fabrication processes. The work presented here reports unusual classes of three-dimensional (3D) micromechanical systems in the form of vibratory platforms assembled by controlled compressive buckling. Such 3D structures can be fabricated across a broad range of length scales and from various materials, including soft polymers, monocrystalline silicon, and their composites, resulting in a wide scope of achievable resonant frequencies and mechanical behaviors. Platforms designed with multistable mechanical responses and vibrationally de-coupled constituent elements offer improved bandwidth and frequency tunability. Furthermore, the resonant frequencies can be controlled through deformations of an underlying elastomeric substrate. Systematic experimental and computational studies include structures with diverse geometries, ranging from tables, cages, rings, ring-crosses, ring-disks, two-floor ribbons, flowers, umbrellas, triple-cantilever platforms, and asymmetric circular helices, to multilayer constructions. These ideas form the foundations for engineering designs that complement those supported by conventional, microelectromechanical systems, with capabilities that could be useful in systems for biosensing, energy harvesting and others.

Winter birth, urbanicity and immigrant status predict psychometric schizotypy dimensions in adolescents.

PubMed

Mimarakis, D; Roumeliotaki, T; Roussos, P; Giakoumaki, S G; Bitsios, P

2018-01-01

Urbanicity, immigration and winter-birth are stable epidemiological risk factors for schizophrenia, but their relationship to schizotypy is unknown. This is a first examination of the association of these epidemiological risk factors with positive schizotypy, in nonclinical adolescents, controlling for a range of potential and known confounders. We collected socio-demographics, life-style, family and school circumstances, positive schizotypy dimensions and other personality traits from 445 high school pupils (192 males, 158 immigrants) from 9 municipalities in Athens and Heraklion, Greece, which covered a range of host population and migrant densities. Using multivariate hierarchical linear regressions models, we estimated the association of schizotypy dimensions with: (1) demographics of a priori interest (winter-birth, immigrant status, urban characteristics), including family financial and mental health status; (2) factors resulting from principal component analysis (PCA) of the demographic and personal data; (3) factors resulting from PCA of the personality questionnaires. Adolescent women scored higher on schizotypy than men. High anxiety/neuroticism was the most consistent and significant predictor of all schizotypy dimensions in both sexes. In the fully adjusted models, urbanicity predicted magical thinking and unusual experiences in women, while winter-birth and immigration predicted paranoid ideation and unusual experiences respectively in men. These results support the continuum hypothesis and offer potential insights in the nature of risk conferred by winter-birth, urbanicity and immigration and the nature of important sex differences. Controlling for a wide range of potential confounding factors increases the robustness of these results and confidence that these were not spurious associations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Improvement of FK506 Production in Streptomyces tsukubaensis by Genetic Enhancement of the Supply of Unusual Polyketide Extender Units via Utilization of Two Distinct Site-Specific Recombination Systems

PubMed Central

Chen, Dandan; Zhang, Qi; Zhang, Qinglin; Cen, Peilin

2012-01-01

FK506 is a potent immunosuppressant that has a wide range of clinical applications. Its 23-member macrocyclic scaffold, mainly with a polyketide origin, features two methoxy groups at C-13 and C-15 and one allyl side chain at C-21, due to the region-specific incorporation of two unusual extender units derived from methoxymalonyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) and allylmalonyl-coenzyme A (CoA), respectively. Whether their intracellular formations can be a bottleneck for FK506 production remains elusive. In this study, we report the improvement of FK506 yield in the producing strain Streptomyces tsukubaensis by the duplication of two sets of pathway-specific genes individually encoding the biosyntheses of these two extender units, thereby providing a promising approach to generate high-FK506-producing strains via genetic manipulation. Taking advantage of the fact that S. tsukubaensis is amenable to two actinophage (ΦC31 and VWB) integrase-mediated recombination systems, we genetically enhanced the biosyntheses of methoxymalonyl-ACP and allylmalonyl-CoA, as indicated by transcriptional analysis. Together with the optimization of glucose supplementation, the maximal FK506 titer eventually increased by approximately 150% in comparison with that of the original strain. The strategy of engineering the biosynthesis of unusual extender units described here may be applicable to improving the production of other polyketide or nonribosomal peptide natural products that contain pathway-specific building blocks. PMID:22582065

Unusual Δ7,12,19 C35:3 Alkenone Produced by the Mutant Emiliania huxleyi strain CCMP2758 in Culture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Y.; Huang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Dillon, J. T.

2015-12-01

Alkenones with chain length ranging from C37 to C40 are highly specific biomarkers for certain haptophyte algae in ocean and lake sediments and have been widely used for paleoclimate studies. Short chain alkenones (e.g., C35 and C36) have been found in environmental and culture samples but the origin and structures of these compounds are not fully understood. The benchmark marine alkenone producer, Emiliania huxleyi CCMP2758 strain (the mutant of strain CCMP1742, NEPCC55a) was reported to make 35:2 alkenone when cultured at 15 °C (Prahl et al., 2006). Here we show, when this strain is cultured at lower temperatures (e.g., 4°C), CCMP2758 produces large amount of 35:3 alkenone with unusual double bond positions of Δ7,12,19. We determined the double bond positions of the C35:3 methyl ketonee based on GC-MS analysis of cyclobutylimine derivatives and dimethyl disulfide derivatives respectively, and provide the first temperature calibrations based on the unsaturation ratios of C35 alkenones. Previous studies have found 35:2 alkenone with three methylene interruption in the Black Sea sediment, but it is the first time that an alkenone with a mixed three and five methylene interruption is found. The discovery of short chain alkenones with unusual double bond positions may shed new light to alkenone biosynthesis.

Substrate-Controlled Product Divergence: Conversion of CO2 into Heterocyclic Products.

PubMed

Rintjema, Jeroen; Epping, Roel; Fiorani, Giulia; Martín, Eddy; Escudero-Adán, Eduardo C; Kleij, Arjan W

2016-03-14

Substituted epoxy alcohols and amines allow substrate-controlled conversion of CO2 into a wide range of heterocyclic structures through different mechanistic manifolds. This new approach results in an unusual scope of CO2-derived products by initial activation of CO2 through either the amine or alcohol unit, thus providing nucleophiles for intramolecular epoxy ring opening under mild reaction conditions. Control experiments support the crucial role of the amine/alcohol fragment in this process with the nucleophile-assisted ring-opening step following an SN i pathway, and a 5-exo-tet cyclization, thus leading to heterocyclic scaffolds. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

ARC-1986-A86-7031

NASA Image and Video Library

1986-01-26

P-29515 BW Range: 42,000 kilometers (26,000 miles) This image of Miranda, obtained by Voyager 2 on approach, shows an unusual 'chevron' figure and regions of distinctly differing terrain on the Uranian moon. Grooved areas baring light and dark bands, distinct from other areas of mottled terrain, are visible at this resolution of about 600 meters (2,000 feet). The bright V-shaped feature in the grooved areas is the 'cheron' observed in earlier, lower-resolution images. Cutting across the bands are sinuous scarps, probably faults. Superimposed on both types of terrain are many bowl-shaped impact craters less than 5 km (3 mi) wide. The entire picture spans an area about 220 km (140 mi) across.

Edwardsiella tarda Endocarditis Confirmed by Indium-111 White Blood Cell Scan: An Unusual Pathogen and Diagnostic Modality.

PubMed

Litton, Kayleigh M; Rogers, Bret A

2016-01-01

Edwardsiella tarda is a freshwater marine member of the family Enterobacteriaceae which often colonizes fish, lizards, snakes, and turtles but is an infrequent human pathogen. Indium-111- ((111)In-) labeled white blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy is an imaging modality which has a wide range of reported sensitivity and specificity (from 60 to 100% and from 68 to 92%, resp.) for diagnosing acute and chronic infection. We describe a case of suspected E. tarda prosthetic aortic valve and mitral valve endocarditis with probable vegetations and new mitral regurgitation on transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms which was supported with the use of (111)In-labeled WBC scintigraphy.

Evidence for a near-Earth asteroid belt

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rabinowitz, D. L.; Gehrels, T.; Scotti, J. V.; Mcmillan, R. S.; Perry, M. L.; Wisniewski, W.; Larson, S. M.; Howell, E. S.; Mueller, B. E. A.

1993-01-01

In January 1991, the 0.9-m Spacewatch telescope made the first observation of an asteroid outside Earth's atmosphere but in the neighborhood of the Earth-moon system. Since then, more than 40 Earth-approaching asteroids have been discovered, including 13 smaller than 50 m. Using these data, one of us has shown that there is an excess of Earth-approaching asteroids with diameters less than 50 m, relative to the population inferred from the distribution of larger objects. Here we argue that these smaller objects - characterized by low eccentricities, widely ranging inclinations and unusual spectral properties - form a previously undetected asteroid belt concentrated near Earth. The recent discovery of additional small Earth-approaching asteroids supports this conclusion.

Unusual properties of aqueous solutions of L-proline: A molecular dynamics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Civera, Monica; Sironi, Maurizio; Fornili, Sandro L.

2005-11-01

Aqueous solutions of the bioprotectant proline are simulated for solute molar fractions ranging from 2.0 × 10 -3 to 2.3 × 10 -1. Statistical analyses show that proline affects the water structure more strongly than glycine betaine and trimethylamine- N-oxide, two of the most effective bioprotectants widely diffuse in nature, and as strongly as tert-butyl alcohol, a protein denaturant which at high concentration self-aggregates. No evidence is found, however, that proline self-aggregates as it has been previously suggested to explain experimental findings on concentrated proline solutions. Nevertheless, the behavior of the diffusion coefficients of proline and water vs. solute concentration qualitatively agrees with such results.

The effective magnetoelectric coefficients of polycrystalline Cr2O3 annealed in perpendicular electric and magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y. Y.; Xie, S. H.; Jin, G.; Li, J. Y.

2009-04-01

Magnetoelectric annealing is necessary to remove antiferromagnetic domains and induce macroscopic magnetoelectric effect in polycrystalline magnetoelectric materials, and in this paper, we study the effective magnetoelectric properties of perpendicularly annealed polycrystalline Cr2O3 using effective medium approximation. The effect of temperatures, grain aspect ratios, and two different types of orientation distribution function have been analyzed, and unusual material symmetry is observed when the orientation distribution function only depends on Euler angle ψ. Optimal grain aspect ratio and texture coefficient are also identified. The approach can be applied to analyze the microstructural field distribution and macroscopic properties of a wide range of magnetoelectric polycrystals.

Spinel-Bearing, Al-Rich Chrondrules in the Unequilibrated Ordinary Chondrite NWA7402

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ross, D. K.; Simon, J. I.; Cato, M. J.

2017-01-01

Several Al-rich chondrules (ARCs) have been discovered in the unequilibrated ordinary chondrite NWA7402. Two of these three ARCs are spinel-bearing. Here we have characterized these unusual chondrules with respect to their mineralogy and bulk compositions. These objects will be targets for future O and Mg isotope analysis. NWA7402 is clearly unequilibrated, with wide ranges of olivine compositions in chondrules (Fo99-Fo70, excluding rims). Chromium-oxide contents in olivine, and Raman organic spectral parameters support the classification of this meteorite as petrologic type 3.1 [1]. NWA7402 is similar to, and could be paired with NWA5717, in that they both possess light and dark lithologies.

Carbon nanotube dry adhesives with temperature-enhanced adhesion over a large temperature range.

PubMed

Xu, Ming; Du, Feng; Ganguli, Sabyasachi; Roy, Ajit; Dai, Liming

2016-11-16

Conventional adhesives show a decrease in the adhesion force with increasing temperature due to thermally induced viscoelastic thinning and/or structural decomposition. Here, we report the counter-intuitive behaviour of carbon nanotube (CNT) dry adhesives that show a temperature-enhanced adhesion strength by over six-fold up to 143 N cm -2 (4 mm × 4 mm), among the strongest pure CNT dry adhesives, over a temperature range from -196 to 1,000 °C. This unusual adhesion behaviour leads to temperature-enhanced electrical and thermal transports, enabling the CNT dry adhesive for efficient electrical and thermal management when being used as a conductive double-sided sticky tape. With its intrinsic thermal stability, our CNT adhesive sustains many temperature transition cycles over a wide operation temperature range. We discover that a 'nano-interlock' adhesion mechanism is responsible for the adhesion behaviour, which could be applied to the development of various dry CNT adhesives with novel features.

Brittle-to-Ductile Transition in Metallic Glass Nanowires.

PubMed

Şopu, D; Foroughi, A; Stoica, M; Eckert, J

2016-07-13

When reducing the size of metallic glass samples down to the nanoscale regime, experimental studies on the plasticity under uniaxial tension show a wide range of failure modes ranging from brittle to ductile ones. Simulations on the deformation behavior of nanoscaled metallic glasses report an unusual extended strain softening and are not able to reproduce the brittle-like fracture deformation as found in experiments. Using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations we provide an atomistic understanding of the deformation mechanisms of metallic glass nanowires and differentiate the extrinsic size effects and aspect ratio contribution to plasticity. A model for predicting the critical nanowire aspect ratio for the ductile-to-brittle transition is developed. Furthermore, the structure of brittle nanowires can be tuned to a softer phase characterized by a defective short-range order and an excess free volume upon systematic structural rejuvenation, leading to enhanced tensile ductility. The presented results shed light on the fundamental deformation mechanisms of nanoscaled metallic glasses and demarcate ductile and catastrophic failure.

Terahertz Response of a Microfabricated Rod Split-Ring-Resonator Electromagnetic Metamaterial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moser, H. O.; Casse, B. D.; Wilhelmi, O.; Saw, B. T.

2005-02-01

The first electromagnetic metamaterials (EM3) produced by microfabrication are reported. They are based on the rod split-ring-resonator design as proposed by Pendry et al. [

Microinhomogeneities of glasses of the system PbO-SiO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golubkov, V. V.; Bogdanov, V. N.; Pakhnin, A. Ya.; Solovyev, V. A.; Zhivaeva, E. V.; Kabanov, V. O.; Yanush, O. V.; Nemilov, S. V.; Kisliuk, A.; Soltwisch, M.; Quitmann, D.

1999-03-01

Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and Rayleigh-Mandelstam-Brillouin (RMB) light scattering as well as ultrasonic sound velocities have been studied in glasses of the system PbO-SiO2 which has an unusually wide range of glass forming ability. The results of scattering are compared with calculations based on the concept of frozen-in equilibrium thermal fluctuations as the origin of static microinhomogeneities (MIH) in glasses. MIH of compositions seem to be the main source of scattering, and the calculations are found to be in qualitative agreement with both SAXS and RMB measurements. Glasses with PbO content above 40 mol.% are more homogeneous than ideal solutions of PbO and SiO2 whereas MIH in glasses with smaller PbO content are comparable with those expected for ideal solutions of PbO and SiO2. In the latter range SAXS measurements indicate the existence of medium-range order with correlation length of 5-7 Å.

Parametric dependence of ion temperature and electron density in the SUMMA hot-ion plasma using laser light scattering and emission spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snyder, A.; Patch, R. W.; Lauver, M. R.

1980-01-01

Hot-ion plasma experiments were conducted in the NASA Lewis SUMMA facility. A steady-state modified Penning discharge was formed by applying a radially inward dc electric field of several kilovolts near the magnetic mirror maxima. Results are reported for a hydrogen plasma covering a wide range in midplane magnetic flux densities from 0.5 to 3.37 T. Input power greater than 45 kW was obtained with water-cooled cathodes. Steady-state plasmas with ion kinetic temperatures from 18 to 830 eV were produced and measured spectroscopically. These ion temperatures were correlated with current, voltage, and magnetic flux density as the independent variables. Electron density measurements were made using an unusually sensitive Thomson scattering apparatus. The measured electron densities range from 2.1 x 10 to the 11th to 6.8 x 10 to the 12th per cu cm.

Atom-efficient regioselective 1,2-dearomatization of functionalized pyridines by an earth-abundant organolanthanide catalyst

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dudnik, Alexander S.; Weidner, Victoria L.; Motta, Alessandro; Delferro, Massimiliano; Marks, Tobin J.

2014-12-01

Developing earth-abundant, non-platinum metal catalysts for high-value chemical transformations is a critical challenge to contemporary chemical synthesis. Dearomatization of pyridine derivatives is an important transformation to access a wide range of valuable nitrogenous natural products, pharmaceuticals and materials. Here, we report an efficient 1,2-regioselective organolanthanide-catalysed pyridine dearomatization process using pinacolborane, which is compatible with a broad range of pyridines and functional groups and employs equimolar reagent stoichiometry. Regarding the mechanism, derivation of the rate law from NMR spectroscopic and kinetic measurements suggests first order in catalyst concentration, fractional order in pyridine concentration and inverse first order in pinacolborane concentration, with C=N insertion into the La-H bond as turnover-determining. An energetic span analysis affords a more detailed understanding of experimental activity trends and the unusual kinetic behaviour, and proposes the catalyst ‘resting’ state and potential deactivation pathways.

St. Fergus terminal gets turboexpanders for critical service

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

Lillard, J.K.; Nicol, G.

1994-09-05

To expand the St. Fergus gas-reception terminal for the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) system, Mobil North Sea Ltd. is adding a second separation train and two treatment trains. To meet pipeline-gas specifications over a wide range of low rates and feed-gas compositions, single-stage turboexpander chilling was selected over Joule-Thomson valve expansion. Four turboexpanders (two per process train) will operate in parallel to achieve the required performance over the entire flow range of 90--575 MMscfd per process train. Unusual operating conditions for the turboexpanders include dense-phase inlet gas, expansion near the cricondenbar, and high equilibrium liquid content at the exhaustmore » (up to 50 wt %). The two turboexpanders in each train share common suction and discharge facilities as do their associated brake compressor. Details of the more than 400 million pounds Sterling Phase B discussed here include commissioning, start-up, and operation.« less

Frequency dependence of magnetic ac loss in a Roebel cable made of YBCO on a Ni-W substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lakshmi, L. S.; Staines, M. P.; Badcock, R. A.; Long, N. J.; Majoros, M.; Collings, E. W.; Sumption, M. D.

2010-08-01

We have investigated the frequency dependent contributions to the magnetic ac loss in a 10 strand Roebel cable with 2 mm wide non-insulated strands and a transposition length of 90 mm. This cable is made from 40 mm wide YBCO coated conductor tape manufactured by AMSC and stabilized by electroplating 25 µm thick copper on either side prior to the mechanical punching of the cable strands. The measurements were carried out in both perpendicular and parallel field orientation, at frequencies in the range of 30-200 Hz. While the loss in the perpendicular orientation is predominantly hysteretic in nature, we observe some frequency dependence of the loss when the cable approaches full flux penetration at high field amplitudes. The magnitude is consistent with eddy current losses in the copper stabilization layer. This supports the fact that the inter-strand coupling loss is not significant in this frequency range. In the parallel field orientation, the hysteresis loss in the Ni-W alloy substrate dominates, but we see an unusually strong frequency dependent contribution to the loss which we attribute to intra-strand current loops.

Eop1 from a Rubus strain of Erwinia amylovora functions as a host-range limiting factor.

PubMed

Asselin, J E; Bonasera, J M; Kim, J F; Oh, C-S; Beer, S V

2011-08-01

Strains of Erwinia amylovora, the bacterium causing the disease fire blight of rosaceous plants, are separated into two groups based on host range: Spiraeoideae and Rubus strains. Spiraeoideae strains have wide host ranges, infecting plants in many rosaceous genera, including apple and pear. In the field, Rubus strains infect the genus Rubus exclusively, which includes raspberry and blackberry. Based on comparisons of limited sequence data from a Rubus and a Spiraeoideae strain, the gene eop1 was identified as unusually divergent, and it was selected as a possible host specificity factor. To test this, eop1 genes from a Rubus strain and a Spiraeoideae strain were cloned and mutated. Expression of the Rubus-strain eop1 reduced the virulence of E. amylovora in immature pear fruit and in apple shoots. Sequencing the orfA-eop1 regions of several strains of E. amylovora confirmed that forms of eop1 are conserved among strains with similar host ranges. This work provides evidence that eop1 from a Rubus-specific strain can function as a determinant of host specificity in E. amylovora.

Healthy Animals, Healthy People: Zoonosis Risk from Animal Contact in Pet Shops, a Systematic Review of the Literature

PubMed Central

Halsby, Kate D.; Walsh, Amanda L.; Campbell, Colin; Hewitt, Kirsty; Morgan, Dilys

2014-01-01

Background Around 67 million pets are owned by households in the United Kingdom, and an increasing number of these are exotic animals. Approximately a third of pets are purchased through retail outlets or direct from breeders. A wide range of infections can be associated with companion animals. Objectives This study uses a systematic literature review to describe the transmission of zoonotic disease in humans associated with a pet shop or other location selling pets (incidents of rabies tracebacks and zoonoses from pet food were excluded). Data sources PubMed and EMBASE. Results Fifty seven separate case reports or incidents were described in the 82 papers that were identified by the systematic review. Summary information on each incident is included in this manuscript. The infections include bacterial, viral and fungal diseases and range in severity from mild to life threatening. Infections associated with birds and rodents were the most commonly reported. Over half of the reports describe incidents in the Americas, and three of these were outbreaks involving more than 50 cases. Many of the incidents identified relate to infections in pet shop employees. Limitations This review may have been subject to publication bias, where unusual and unexpected zoonotic infections may be over-represented in peer-reviewed publications. It was also restricted to English-language articles so that pathogens that are more common in non-Western countries, or in more exotic animals not common in Europe and the Americas, may have been under-represented. Conclusions/implications A wide spectrum of zoonotic infections are acquired from pet shops. Salmonellosis and psittacosis were the most commonly documented diseases, however more unusual infections such as tularemia also appeared in the review. Given their potential to spread zoonotic infection, it is important that pet shops act to minimise the risk as far as possible. PMID:24586679

Topological modes bound to dislocations in mechanical metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paulose, Jayson; Chen, Bryan Gin-Ge; Vitelli, Vincenzo

2015-02-01

Mechanical metamaterials are artificial structures with unusual properties, such as negative Poisson ratio, bistability or tunable vibrational properties, that originate in the geometry of their unit cell. Often at the heart of such unusual behaviour is a soft mode: a motion that does not significantly stretch or compress the links between constituent elements. When activated by motors or external fields, soft modes become the building blocks of robots and smart materials. Here, we demonstrate the existence of topological soft modes that can be positioned at desired locations in a metamaterial while being robust against a wide range of structural deformations or changes in material parameters. These protected modes, localized at dislocations in deformed kagome and square lattices, are the mechanical analogue of topological states bound to defects in electronic systems. We create physical realizations of the topological modes in prototypes of kagome lattices built out of rigid triangular plates. We show mathematically that they originate from the interplay between two Berry phases: the Burgers vector of the dislocation and the topological polarization of the lattice. Our work paves the way towards engineering topologically protected nanomechanical structures for molecular robotics or information storage and read-out.

UV-Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical and in situ conductance studies of unusual stability of n- and p-doped poly(dimethyldioctylquaterthiophene-alt-oxadiazole) under high cathodic and anodic polarizations.

PubMed

Pomerantz, Z; Levi, M D; Salitra, G; Demadrille, R; Fisyuk, A; Zaban, A; Aurbach, D; Pron, A

2008-02-21

Combined CV studies and UV-Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical investigations revealed an unusual stability of the p- and n-doped PMOThOD in the wide potential window of 4 V. The n-doping process occurs in this polymer down to -2.7 V (vs. Ag/Ag+) in a non-destructive way with the characteristic development of the omega3 transition as a function of the doping level. In situ electronic transport studies revealed a high conductivity of the n-doped polymer which implies high mobility of the negatively charged carriers in the freshly doped PMOThOD film electrodes. An increase in the cathodic polarization, long-term cycling of the film electrodes, especially of higher thickness, results in a growing contribution of the negatively charged carriers trapping to the redox properties of the PMOThOD. The trapping of the charged carriers reduces gradually the electronic conductance of the PMOThOD film, but its effect on the redox-capacity of the film (in a typical scan rates range up to 50 mV s(-1)) is only minor.

Unusually sharp paramagnetic phase transition in thin film Fe3Pt invar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drisko, Jasper; Cumings, John

2013-03-01

Invar alloys, typically 3d transition metal rich systems, are most commonly known for their extremely low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) over a wide range of temperatures close to room temperature. This anomalous behavior in the CTE lends Invar to a variety of important applications in precision mechanical devices, scientific instruments, and sensors, among others. Many theoretical models of Invar have been proposed over the years, the most promising of which is a system described by two coexisting phases, one high-spin high-volume and the other low-spin low-volume, that compete to stabilize the volume of the material as the temperature is changed. However, no theory has yet been able to explain all experimental observations across the range of Invar alloys, especially at finite temperature. We have fabricated thin films of a Fe3Pt Invar alloy and investigate them using Lorentz Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). 23nm films are deposited onto SiN membrane substrates via radio-frequency magnetron sputtering from a pure Fe target decorated with Pt pieces. We observe novel magnetic domain structures and an unusually sharp phase transition between ferromagnetic (FM) and paramagnetic (PM) regions of the film under a temperature gradient. This sharp transition suggests that the FM-to-PM transition may be first order, perhaps containing a structural-elastic component to the order parameter. However, electron diffraction reveals that both the FM and PM regions have the same FCC crystal structure.

Pluto Badlands

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-12-05

This highest-resolution image from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft shows how erosion and faulting has sculpted this portion of Pluto's icy crust into rugged badlands. The prominent 1.2-mile-high cliff at the top, running from left to upper right, is part of a great canyon system that stretches for hundreds of miles across Pluto's northern hemisphere. New Horizons team members think that the mountains in the middle are made of water ice, but have been modified by the movement of nitrogen or other exotic ice glaciers over long periods of time, resulting in a muted landscape of rounded peaks and intervening sets of short ridges. At the bottom of this 50-mile-wide image, the terrain transforms dramatically into a fractured and finely broken up floor at the northwest margin of the giant ice plain informally called Sputnik Planum. The top of the image is to Pluto's northwest. These images were made with the telescopic Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) aboard New Horizons, in a timespan of about a minute centered on 11:36 UT on July 14 -- just about 15 minutes before New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto -- from a range of just 10,000 miles (17,000 kilometers). They were obtained with an unusual observing mode; instead of working in the usual "point and shoot," LORRI snapped pictures every three seconds while the Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC) aboard New Horizons was scanning the surface. This mode requires unusually short exposures to avoid blurring the images. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20199

Fast BIA-amperometric determination of isoniazid in tablets.

PubMed

Quintino, Maria S M; Angnes, Lúcio

2006-09-26

This paper proposes a new, fast and precise method to analyze isoniazid based on the electrochemical oxidation of the analyte at a glassy carbon electrode in 0.1M NaOH. The quantification was performed utilizing amperometry associated with batch injection analysis (BIA) technique. Fast sequential analysis (60 determinations h(-1)) in an unusually wide linear dynamic range (from 2.5 x 10(-8) to 1.0 x 10(-3)M), with high sensitivity and low limits of detection (4.1 x 10(-9)M) and quantification (1.4 x 10(-8)M), was achieved. Such characteristics allied to a good repeatability of the current responses (relative standard deviation of 0.79% for 30 measurements), were explored for the specific determination of isoniazid in isoniazid-rifampin tablet.

Nocardia transvalensis Disseminated Infection in an Immunocompromised Patient with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

PubMed Central

García-Méndez, Jorge; Carrillo-Casas, Erika M.; Rangel-Cordero, Andrea; Leyva-Leyva, Margarita; Xicohtencatl-Cortes, Juan; Arenas, Roberto; Hernández-Castro, Rigoberto

2016-01-01

Nocardia transvalensis complex includes a wide range of microorganisms with specific antimicrobial resistance patterns. N. transvalensis is an unusual Nocardia species. However, it must be differentiated due to its natural resistance to aminoglycosides while other Nocardia species are susceptible. The present report describes a Nocardia species involved in an uncommon clinical case of a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and pulmonary nocardiosis. Microbiological and molecular techniques based on the sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene allowed diagnosis of Nocardia transvalensis sensu stricto. The successful treatment was based on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and other drugs. We conclude that molecular identification of Nocardia species is a valuable technique to guide good treatment and prognosis and recommend its use for daily bases diagnosis. PMID:27313917

Nocardia transvalensis Disseminated Infection in an Immunocompromised Patient with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

PubMed

García-Méndez, Jorge; Carrillo-Casas, Erika M; Rangel-Cordero, Andrea; Leyva-Leyva, Margarita; Xicohtencatl-Cortes, Juan; Arenas, Roberto; Hernández-Castro, Rigoberto

2016-01-01

Nocardia transvalensis complex includes a wide range of microorganisms with specific antimicrobial resistance patterns. N. transvalensis is an unusual Nocardia species. However, it must be differentiated due to its natural resistance to aminoglycosides while other Nocardia species are susceptible. The present report describes a Nocardia species involved in an uncommon clinical case of a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and pulmonary nocardiosis. Microbiological and molecular techniques based on the sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene allowed diagnosis of Nocardia transvalensis sensu stricto. The successful treatment was based on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and other drugs. We conclude that molecular identification of Nocardia species is a valuable technique to guide good treatment and prognosis and recommend its use for daily bases diagnosis.

[Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus)].

PubMed

Borges, João Carlos Gomes; Alves, Leucio Câmara; Vergara-Parente, Jociery Einhardt; Faustino, Maria Aparecida da Glória; Machado, Erilane de Castro Lima

2009-01-01

Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonosis which can affect man and a wide range of domestic and wild animals, mainly immunodeficient individuals. The objective of this paper was reported the occurrence of a Cryptosporidium infection in Antillean manatee. After an unusual behavior of an Antillean manatee kept in captivity at the Centro Mamíferos Aquáticos, ICMBio--FMA, clinical examination and posterior fecal sampling was performed. Fecal samples were examined by the Kinyoun technique, Direct Immunofluorescence Test and also examined by 4',6'-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole (DAPI) staining. At the clinical examination, the animal showed signs of abdominal pain. The results obtained by light and fluorescence microscopy analysis showed the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst in feces of this manatee.

Histological convergent evolution of the accessory submandibular glands in four species of frog-eating bats.

PubMed

Tandler, B; Phillips, C J; Nagato, T

1996-08-01

The accessory submandibular glands in four species of bats were examined by electron microscopy. These four species represent two independently evolved lineages. The fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosis, is a Neotropical phyllostomid species, whereas the false vampire bats of southeast Asia, Megaderma lyra and M. spasma, and the heart-nosed bat, Cardioderma cor, of East Africa are megadermatid species. These glands show extreme deviation from typical salivary gland histology: their secretory endpieces are in the form of follicles and their ducts lack the cytological details that permit identification of diverse duct segments. Despite their unusual histology, the secretory endpieces in M. lyra, M. spasma, and C. cor consist of secretory cells that conform to typical secretory cell morphology. In contrast, secretion by follicular cells in T. cirrhosis involves unusual cytoplasmic bodies, and their mitochondria frequently have intracristal crystalloids. Ducts in all four species consist of simple cuboidal to columnar epithelium without basal striations. Follicles and ducts in all four bats are surrounded by numerous myoepithelial cells and are heavily innervated by hypolemmal nerve terminals. Despite their widely separated geographical ranges, all four bat species consume frogs and other vertebrates. Frogs and toads often possess toxic cutaneous glands that provide a chemical defense against predation. It is postulated that the unusual accessory glands in the four frog-eating species secrete toxin-neutralizing salivary factors. The follicular form of the endpieces permits storage of preformed saliva and their coterie of myoepithelial cells and hypolemmal nerve terminals facilitates the sudden and rapid expulsion of saliva into the oral cavity during the consumption of noxious amphibians.

Investigating the Origin of the Supernova Remnant W49B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crum, Ryan Matthew; Frank, Kari A.; Dwarkadas, Vikram; Burrows, David N.

2018-01-01

W49B is a Galactic supernova remnant whose origin is still debated. Is it the remains of an unusual asymmetric Type 1a supernova or of a jet-driven core collapse supernova? Using the X-ray analysis method, Smoothed Particle Inference (SPI), we dig deeper into understanding the complex properties of SNR W49B. We do this by characterizing the temperatures and abundance ratios throughout the remnant. We will compare the results with a wide variety of supernova nucleosynthesis models in order to constrain the mechanism behind this unusual supernova remnant.

Photoconductivity of Macroporous and Nonporous Silicon with Ultrathin Oxide Layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konin, K. P.; Goltvyansky, Yu. V.; Karachevtseva, L. A.; Karas, M. I.; Morozovs'ka, D. V.

2018-06-01

The photoconductivity of macroporous silicon with ultrathin oxide layers of 2.7-30 nm in thickness at short-wave optical excitation was studied. The following feature was revealed: a nonmonotonic change in the photoconductivity as a function of the oxide thickness. At a minimum thickness, the photoconductivity is negative; in the interval 6.8-15 nm, it is very much suppressed; at 15-30 nm, it is positive. Suppression of photoconductivity over a wide thickness range indicates an abnormally high concentration of traps and capture centers for charge carriers of both signs. Such a change in the photoconductivity corresponds to the known results on the continuous morphological rearrangement of the oxide in the thickness range from 6-7 nm to 12-15 nm from the coesite-like (4-membered SiO4 tetrahedra rings) to the tridymite-like (6-membered SiO4 tetrahedra rings). The suppression of photoconductivity in the intermediate range probably demonstrates the collective, antisynergetic action of these coexisting oxide forms on the nonequilibrium charge carriers. These coexisting oxide forms manifest themselves as an unusual collective defect.

Evaluation of a hospital-wide PACS: costs and benefits of the Hammersmith PACS installation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bryan, Stirling; Keen, Justin; Buxton, Martin J.; Weatherburn, Gwyneth C.

1992-07-01

The unusual nature of sites chosen for hospital-wide PACS implementations and the very small number of proposed implementations make evaluation a complex task. The UK Department of Health is funding both the evaluation and implementation of a hospital-wide PACS. The Brunel University evaluation of the Hammersmith Hospital PACS has two main components: an economic evaluation of the costs and benefits of hospital-wide PACS installations and an exercise in monitoring the implementation process. This paper concentrates on the economic component.

A single-layer wide-angle negative-index metamaterial at visible frequencies.

PubMed

Burgos, Stanley P; de Waele, Rene; Polman, Albert; Atwater, Harry A

2010-05-01

Metamaterials are materials with artificial electromagnetic properties defined by their sub-wavelength structure rather than their chemical composition. Negative-index materials (NIMs) are a special class of metamaterials characterized by an effective negative index that gives rise to such unusual wave behaviour as backwards phase propagation and negative refraction. These extraordinary properties lead to many interesting functions such as sub-diffraction imaging and invisibility cloaking. So far, NIMs have been realized through layering of resonant structures, such as split-ring resonators, and have been demonstrated at microwave to infrared frequencies over a narrow range of angles-of-incidence and polarization. However, resonant-element NIM designs suffer from the limitations of not being scalable to operate at visible frequencies because of intrinsic fabrication limitations, require multiple functional layers to achieve strong scattering and have refractive indices that are highly dependent on angle of incidence and polarization. Here we report a metamaterial composed of a single layer of coupled plasmonic coaxial waveguides that exhibits an effective refractive index of -2 in the blue spectral region with a figure-of-merit larger than 8. The resulting NIM refractive index is insensitive to both polarization and angle-of-incidence over a +/-50 degree angular range, yielding a wide-angle NIM at visible frequencies.

FinEstBeaMS - A wide-range Finnish-Estonian Beamline for Materials Science at the 1.5 GeV storage ring at the MAX IV Laboratory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pärna, R.; Sankari, R.; Kukk, E.; Nõmmiste, E.; Valden, M.; Lastusaari, M.; Kooser, K.; Kokko, K.; Hirsimäki, M.; Urpelainen, S.; Turunen, P.; Kivimäki, A.; Pankratov, V.; Reisberg, L.; Hennies, F.; Tarawneh, H.; Nyholm, R.; Huttula, M.

2017-07-01

The FinEstBeaMS beamline is under construction at the 1.5 GeV storage ring of the MAX IV Laboratory at Lund, Sweden. It has been designed to cover an unusually wide energy range from ultraviolet (4.3 eV) to soft X-rays (1000 eV) but experiments will also be possible at the Mg and Al Kα energies. Instead of having two different insertion devices and optical schemes for low and high photon energy regions, we have based our design on a single long-period, elliptically polarizing undulator and a plane grating monochromator. This solution will provide very good conditions for planned experiments in the whole photon energy region. The beamline will have two branches: one will mainly be used to investigate free atoms, molecules and clusters with photoelectron/photoion coincidence spectroscopy as well as solids with photoluminescence spectroscopy whereas the other one will be dedicated to ultra-high vacuum studies of surfaces and interfaces, utilizing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. This paper focuses on the optical design of the beamline and general design concepts of the gas phase and solid state end stations.

Screening a wide host-range, waste-water metagenomic library in tryptophan auxotrophs of Rhizobium leguminosarum and of Escherichia coli reveals different classes of cloned trp genes.

PubMed

Li, Youguo; Wexler, Margaret; Richardson, David J; Bond, Philip L; Johnston, Andrew W B

2005-12-01

A metagenomic cosmid library was constructed, in which the insert DNA was derived from bacteria in a waste-water treatment plant and the vector was the wide host-range cosmid pLAFR3. The library was screened for clones that could correct defined tryptophan auxotrophs of the alpha-proteobacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum and of Escherichia coli. A total of 26 different cosmids that corrected at least one trp mutant in one or both of these species were obtained. Several cosmids corrected the auxotrophy of one or more R. leguminosarum trp mutants, but not the corresponding mutants in E. coli. Conversely, one cosmid corrected trpA, B, C, D and E mutants of E. coli but none of the trp mutants of R. leguminosarum. Two of the Trp+ cosmids were examined in more detail. One contained a trp operon that resembled that of the pathogen Chlamydophila caviae, containing the unusual kynU gene, which specifies kynureninase. The other, whose trp genes functioned in R. leguminosarum but not in E. coli, contained trpDCFBA in an operon that is likely co-transcribed with five other genes, most of which had no known link with tryptophan synthesis. The sequences of these TRP proteins, and the products of nine other genes encoded by this cosmid, failed to affiliate them with any known bacterial lineage. For one metagenomic cosmid, lac reporter fusions confirmed that its cloned trp genes were transcribed in R. leguminosarum, but not in E. coli. Thus, rhizobia, with their many sigma-factors, may be well-suited hosts for metagenomic libraries, cloned in wide host-range vectors.

Effect of annealing temperatures on the electrical conductivity and dielectric properties of Ni1.5Fe1.5O4 spinel ferrite prepared by chemical reaction at different pH values

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aneesh Kumar, K. S.; Bhowmik, R. N.

2017-12-01

The electrical conductivity and dielectric properties of Ni1.5Fe1.5O4 ferrite has been controlled by varying the annealing temperature of the chemical routed samples. The frequency activated conductivity obeyed Jonscher’s power law and universal scaling suggested semiconductor nature. An unusual metal like state has been revealed in the measurement temperature scale in between two semiconductor states with different activation energy. The metal like state has been affected by thermal annealing of the material. The analysis of electrical impedance and modulus spectra has confirmed non-Debye dielectric relaxation with contributions from grains and grain boundaries. The dielectric relaxation process is thermally activated in terms of measurement temperature and annealing temperature of the samples. The hole hopping process, due to presence of Ni3+ ions in the present Ni rich ferrite, played a significant role in determining the thermal activated conduction mechanism. This work has successfully applied the technique of a combined variation of annealing temperature and pH value during chemical reaction for tuning electrical parameters in a wide range; for example dc limit of conductivity ~10-4-10-12 S cm-1, and unusually high activation energy ~0.17-1.36 eV.

The Mountainous Shoreline of Sputnik Planum

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-12-05

In this highest-resolution image from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, great blocks of Pluto's water-ice crust appear jammed together in the informally named al-Idrisi mountains. Some mountain sides appear coated in dark material, while other sides are bright. Several sheer faces appear to show crustal layering, perhaps related to the layers seen in some of Pluto's crater walls. Other materials appear crushed between the mountains, as if these great blocks of water ice, some standing as much as 1.5 miles high, were jostled back and forth. The mountains end abruptly at the shoreline of the informally named Sputnik Planum, where the soft, nitrogen-rich ices of the plain form a nearly level surface, broken only by the fine trace work of striking, cellular boundaries and the textured surface of the plain's ices (which is possibly related to sunlight-driven ice sublimation). This view is about 50 miles wide. The top of the image is to Pluto's northwest. These images were made with the telescopic Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) aboard New Horizons, in a timespan of about a minute centered on 11:36 UT on July 14 -- just about 15 minutes before New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto -- from a range of just 10,000 miles (17,000 kilometers). They were obtained with an unusual observing mode; instead of working in the usual "point and shoot," LORRI snapped pictures every three seconds while the Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC) aboard New Horizons was scanning the surface. This mode requires unusually short exposures to avoid blurring the images. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20198

Lithium hydroxide, LiOH, at elevated densities

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

Hermann, Andreas; Ashcroft, N. W.; Hoffmann, Roald

2014-07-14

We discuss the high-pressure phases of crystalline lithium hydroxide, LiOH. Using first-principles calculations, and assisted by evolutionary structure searches, we reproduce the experimentally known phase transition under pressure, but we suggest that the high-pressure phase LiOH-III be assigned to a new hydrogen-bonded tetragonal structure type that is unique amongst alkali hydroxides. LiOH is at the intersection of both ionic and hydrogen bonding, and we examine the various ensuing structural features and their energetic driving mechanisms. At P = 17 GPa, we predict another phase transition to a new phase, Pbcm-LiOH-IV, which we find to be stable over a wide pressuremore » range. Eventually, at extremely high pressures of 1100 GPa, the ground state of LiOH is predicted to become a polymeric structure with an unusual graphitic oxygen-hydrogen net. However, because of its ionic character, the anticipated metallization of LiOH is much delayed; in fact, its electronic band gap increases monotonically into the TPa pressure range.« less

Evidence for intertwined superfluid and density wave order in two dimensional 4He

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saunders, John

2015-03-01

We report the identification of a new state of quantum matter with intertwined superfluid and density wave order in a system of two dimensional bosons subject to a triangular lattice potential. Using a torsional oscillator we have measured the response of the second atomic layer of 4He adsorbed on the surface of graphite over a wide temperature range down to 2 mK. Superfluidity is observed over a narrow range of film densities, emerging suddenly and collapsing towards a quantum critical point, near to layer completion where a Mott insulating phase is predicted to form. The unusual temperature dependence of the superfluid density in the T --> 0 limit and the absence of a clear superfluid onset temperature are explained, self-consistently, by an ansatz for the excitation spectrum, reflecting density wave order, and a quasi-condensate wavefunction breaking both gauge and translational symmetry. In collaboration with Jan Nyeki, Anastasia Phillis, Andrew Ho, Derek Lee, Piers Coleman, Jeevak Parpia, Brian Cowan. Supported by EPSRC (U.K) EP/H048375/1.

Measured Attenuation of Coplanar Waveguide on 6H, p-type SiC and High Purity Semi-Insulating 4H SiC through 800 K

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ponchak, George E.; Schwartz, Zachary D.; Alterovitz, Samuel A.; Downey, Alan N.

2004-01-01

Wireless sensors for high temperature applications such as oil drilling and mining, automobiles, and jet engine performance monitoring require circuits built on wide bandgap semiconductors. In this paper, the characteristics of microwave transmission lines on 4H-High Purity Semi-Insulating SiC and 6H, p-type SiC is presented as a function of temperature and frequency. It is shown that the attenuation of 6H, p-type substrates is too high for microwave circuits, large leakage current will flow through the substrate, and that unusual attenuation characteristics are due to trapping in the SiC. The 4H-HPSI SiC is shown to have low attenuation and leakage currents over the entire temperature range.

Conductance signatures of odd-frequency superconductivity in quantum spin Hall systems using a quantum point contact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleckenstein, C.; Ziani, N. Traverso; Trauzettel, B.

2018-04-01

Topological superconductors give rise to unconventional superconductivity, which is mainly characterized by the symmetry of the superconducting pairing amplitude. However, since the symmetry of the superconducting pairing amplitude is not directly observable, its experimental identification is rather difficult. In our work, we propose a system, composed of a quantum point contact and proximity-induced s -wave superconductivity at the helical edge of a two-dimensional topological insulator, for which we demonstrate the presence of odd-frequency pairing and its intimate connection to unambiguous transport signatures. Notably, our proposal requires no time-reversal symmetry breaking terms. We discover the domination of crossed Andreev reflection over electron cotunneling in a wide range of parameter space, which is a quite unusual transport regime.

Traumatic synovitis in a classical guitarist: a study of joint laxity.

PubMed

Bird, H A; Wright, V

1981-04-01

A classical guitarist performing for at least 5 hours each day developed a traumatic synovitis at the left wrist joint that was first erroneously considered to be rheumatoid arthritis. Comparison with members of the same guitar class suggested that unusual joint laxity of the fingers and wrist, probably inherited from the patient's father, was of more importance in the aetiology of the synovitis than a wide range of movement acquired by regular practice. Hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the left index finger, quantified by the hyperextensometer, was less marked in the guitarists than in 100 normal individuals. This may be attributed to greater muscular control of the fingers. Lateral instability in the loaded joint may be the most important factor in the aetiology of traumatic synovitis.

Traumatic synovitis in a classical guitarist: a study of joint laxity.

PubMed Central

Bird, H A; Wright, V

1981-01-01

A classical guitarist performing for at least 5 hours each day developed a traumatic synovitis at the left wrist joint that was first erroneously considered to be rheumatoid arthritis. Comparison with members of the same guitar class suggested that unusual joint laxity of the fingers and wrist, probably inherited from the patient's father, was of more importance in the aetiology of the synovitis than a wide range of movement acquired by regular practice. Hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the left index finger, quantified by the hyperextensometer, was less marked in the guitarists than in 100 normal individuals. This may be attributed to greater muscular control of the fingers. Lateral instability in the loaded joint may be the most important factor in the aetiology of traumatic synovitis. Images PMID:7224687

An unusual slowdown of fast diffusion in a room temperature

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

Chathoth,; Mamontov, Eugene; Fulvio, Pasquale F

2013-01-01

Using quasielastic neutron scattering in the temperature range from 290 to 350 K, we show that the diffusive motions in a room temperature ionic liquid [H2NC(dma)2][BETI] become faster for a fraction of cations when the liquid is confined in a mesoporous carbon. This applies to both the localized and long-range translational diffusive motions of the highly mobile cations, although the former exhibit an unusual trend of slowing-down as the temperature is increased, until the localized diffusivity is reduced to the bulk ionic liquid value at a temperature of 350 K.

Organohalide respiration and bioremediation: harnessing biogeochemical cycles (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, E.; Hug, L.; Perez de Mora, A.

2013-12-01

Groundwater contamination is a serious threat to global health and prosperity. Chlorinated solvents are widely used as industrial degreasers, dry-cleaning agents and precursors in chemical synthesis, and therefore are common groundwater contaminants. Owing to their toxicity, even small spills render groundwater unsuitable for use, and cleanup is typically a costly and long-term undertaking. Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, Dehalogenimonas and other unusual microbes have been discovered that can dechlorinate many groundwater contaminants, in particular, the common solvents tetrachloroethene and trichloroethene to the benign product ethene. Remarkably, these organisms obtain energy for growth from dechlorination in a process termed organohalide respiration. The use of biostimulation and bioaugmentation is growing, even at sites with complex hydrogeology and high concentrations of contaminants. Molecular understanding of the unusual metabolism of these organisms is helping to design successful remediation strategies. Four aspects will be emphasized: 1) the nature of the remarkable enzymes that catalyze dechlorination reactions, 2) the role of the non-dechlorinating microbes in providing essential nutrients to dechlorinating organisms, 3) the effects of mixtures of contaminants and 4) the origins of organohalide respiration. Morevoer, the hunt is on to further explore nature's diversity to discover other unusual or novel microbes capable of detoxifying a broader range of contaminants. New molecular biology and genomic tools are helping us understand how these microbes make a living, and how we can take advantage of their abilities to clean up the environment. In this presentation I will review some of the current trends in bioremediation with particular focus on how molecular tools are helping with remediation design, scope and troubleshooting. I will draw from a number of examples from my own laboratory and elsewhere.

Axially engineered metal-insulator phase transition by graded doping VO2 nanowires.

PubMed

Lee, Sangwook; Cheng, Chun; Guo, Hua; Hippalgaonkar, Kedar; Wang, Kevin; Suh, Joonki; Liu, Kai; Wu, Junqiao

2013-03-27

The abrupt first-order metal-insulator phase transition in single-crystal vanadium dioxide nanowires (NWs) is engineered to be a gradual transition by axially grading the doping level of tungsten. We also demonstrate the potential of these NWs for thermal sensing and actuation applications. At room temperature, the graded-doped NWs show metal phase on the tips and insulator phase near the center of the NW, and the metal phase grows progressively toward the center when the temperature rises. As such, each individual NW acts as a microthermometer that can be simply read out with an optical microscope. The NW resistance decreases gradually with the temperature rise, eventually reaching 2 orders of magnitude drop, in stark contrast to the abrupt resistance change in undoped VO2 wires. This novel phase transition yields an extremely high temperature coefficient of resistivity ~10%/K, simultaneously with a very low resistivity down to 0.001 Ω·cm, making these NWs promising infrared sensing materials for uncooled microbolometers. Lastly, they form bimorph thermal actuators that bend with an unusually high curvature, ~900 m(-1)·K(-1) over a wide temperature range (35-80 °C), significantly broadening the response temperature range of previous VO2 bimorph actuators. Given that the phase transition responds to a diverse range of stimuli-heat, electric current, strain, focused light, and electric field-the graded-doped NWs may find wide applications in thermo-opto-electro-mechanical sensing and energy conversion.

Intrathyroid metastasis presenting as a solitary thyroid nodule: an unusual case of clinically silent lung cancer.

PubMed

Sharma, U K; Rauniyar, R K; Adhikary, S; Sinha, A

2008-01-01

Metastases in the thyroid gland are very rare. Carcinoma lung is one of the tumours, which may metastasize to the thyroid. We report a 60-year-old lady with intrathyroid metastasis presenting as a solitary thyroid nodule. Fine needle aspiration cytology from the nodule showed features of metastatic adenocarcinoma. Further detail evaluation revealed primary lung adenocarcinoma with secondaries to adrenals, retroperitoneal and bilateral axillary nodes. This report emphasizes this unusual clinical presentation of carcinoma lung with wide spread secondaries; and a solitary thyroid nodule can be a presenting complain of a metastatic disease.

Craters in an Icy Surface

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-02-26

The crater in the center of this HiRISE image from NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is unusual because there is a wide, flat bench, or terrace, between the outer rim and the inner section, making it appear somewhat like a bullseye.

PitScan: Computer-Assisted Feature Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagner, R. V.; Robinson, M. S.

2018-04-01

We developed PitScan to assist in searching the very large LROC image dataset for pits — unusual <200m wide vertical-walled holes in the Moon's surface. PitScan reduces analysts' workload by pre-filtering images to identify possible pits.

Nanohystricidae n. fam., an unusual, plesiomorphic enarthronote mite family endemic to New Zealand (Acari, Oribatida).

PubMed

Norton, Roy A; Fuangarworn, Marut

2015-10-02

Nanohystrix hammerae n. gen., n. sp.--proposed on the basis of numerous adults and a few juveniles--is a new oribatid mite of the infraorder Enarthronota that appears to be phylogenetically relictual and endemic to northern New Zealand, in habitats ranging from native shrublands to native and semi-native forests. With an adult body length of 1-1.2 mm, the species is the largest known enarthronote mite outside Lohmanniidae, and it has an unusual combination of plesiomorphic and apomorphic traits. Plesiomorphies include: a well-formed median (naso) eye and pigmented lateral eyes; a bothridial seta with a simple, straight base; a vertically-oriented gnathosoma; a peranal segment; adanal sclerites partially incorporated in notogaster (uncertain polarity); three genu I solenidia and a famulus on tarsus II. Autapomorphies include: five pairs of pale cuticular disks on the notogaster, with unknown function; six pairs of long, erectile notogastral setae, including pair h2 incorporated in the second transverse scissure along with the f-row, and pair h1 in a third scissure; chelicerae that are unusually broad, creating a flat-faced appearance; legs I that are inferred to have an unusually wide range of motion. Further, it is the only enarthronote species known to have an elongated ovipositor, and one of few to have glassy, luminous notogastral setae. The gastronotum of juveniles lacks transverse scissures, but has isolated sclerites supporting setae, including erectile setae. The large character gaps between N. hammerae and other enarthronote taxa justifies proposal of a monotypic new family--Nanohystricidae n. fam.--which is tentatively grouped with several other relictual families in the paraphyletic Heterochthonioidea. Small muscles appear to be involved in the operation of all erectile setae, but seem to be only depressors, with erection effected by hysterosomal distension. Based on gut contents, its food is primarily fungal hyphae and spores, though ingestion of small arthropods also occurs (perhaps by necrophagy). Collections were made by Berlese-funnel samples of litter, by sweeping low vegetation, and (mainly) by pitfall traps; the latter two suggest that adults are surface-active. Tritonymphs were collected by pitfall traps, but earlier juveniles were collected only by Berlese-funnels. Adults are frequently infected with a eugregarine parasite, which can entirely fill the digestive caeca; immature trophozoites were also seen in tritonymphs. Adults also can serve as hosts for dispersal of secondary capilliconidia of the fungal genus Basidiobolus.

Forest fire weather in western Oregon and western Washington in 1958.

Treesearch

Owen P. Cramer

1958-01-01

In terms of general weather, the 1958 fire season will be classed as one of the hottest on record and as having unusually frequent spring and summer lightning storms. It was also unusual in that spring and most of the summer were less rainy in western Washington than in normally dry southwestern Oregon. Thus, until late August, cumulative fire-season rainfall ranged...

Extraordinary genome stability in the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia

PubMed Central

Sung, Way; Tucker, Abraham E.; Doak, Thomas G.; Choi, Eunjin; Thomas, W. Kelley; Lynch, Michael

2012-01-01

Mutation plays a central role in all evolutionary processes and is also the basis of genetic disorders. Established base-substitution mutation rates in eukaryotes range between ∼5 × 10−10 and 5 × 10−8 per site per generation, but here we report a genome-wide estimate for Paramecium tetraurelia that is more than an order of magnitude lower than any previous eukaryotic estimate. Nevertheless, when the mutation rate per cell division is extrapolated to the length of the sexual cycle for this protist, the measure obtained is comparable to that for multicellular species with similar genome sizes. Because Paramecium has a transcriptionally silent germ-line nucleus, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that natural selection operates on the cumulative germ-line replication fidelity per episode of somatic gene expression, with the germ-line mutation rate per cell division evolving downward to the lower barrier imposed by random genetic drift. We observe ciliate-specific modifications of widely conserved amino acid sites in DNA polymerases as one potential explanation for unusually high levels of replication fidelity. PMID:23129619

UNSATURATED AMINO ACIDS V.

PubMed Central

Shapira, Jacob; Dittmer, Karl

1961-01-01

Shapira, Jacob (Department of Chemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee) and Karl Dittmer. Unsaturated amino acids. V. Microbiological properties of some halogenated olefinic amino acids. J. Bacteriol. 82:640–647. 1961.—It has been shown previously that several amino acid analogues containing unsaturated linkages were inhibitors of the growth of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This paper reports the results obtained when a series of unsaturated halogen-containing amino acids was examined. The cis isomer of ω-chloroallylglycine showed the greatest toxicity yet found in this series of unsaturated amino acids toward E. coli, whereas the trans-isomer was usually far less toxic. The major effect of cis-ω-chloroallylglycine in E. coli appeared to be to extend the lag phase before the normal rate of growth began. A wide variety of amino acids was capable of partially or completely preventing the toxicity of low levels of these compounds. At higher levels, relatively few amino acids (primarily valine, leucine, and glutamic acid) were effective. In E. coli, cis-ω-chloroallylglycine showed an unusual [Formula: see text] relationship with both glutamic acid and valine over a wide range in concentration. PMID:13911278

Genome wide interactions of wild-type and activator bypass forms of σ54.

PubMed

Schaefer, Jorrit; Engl, Christoph; Zhang, Nan; Lawton, Edward; Buck, Martin

2015-09-03

Enhancer-dependent transcription involving the promoter specificity factor σ(54) is widely distributed amongst bacteria and commonly associated with cell envelope function. For transcription initiation, σ(54)-RNA polymerase yields open promoter complexes through its remodelling by cognate AAA+ ATPase activators. Since activators can be bypassed in vitro, bypass transcription in vivo could be a source of emergent gene expression along evolutionary pathways yielding new control networks and transcription patterns. At a single test promoter in vivo bypass transcription was not observed. We now use genome-wide transcription profiling, genome-wide mutagenesis and gene over-expression strategies in Escherichia coli, to (i) scope the range of bypass transcription in vivo and (ii) identify genes which might alter bypass transcription in vivo. We find little evidence for pervasive bypass transcription in vivo with only a small subset of σ(54) promoters functioning without activators. Results also suggest no one gene limits bypass transcription in vivo, arguing bypass transcription is strongly kept in check. Promoter sequences subject to repression by σ(54) were evident, indicating loss of rpoN (encoding σ(54)) rather than creating rpoN bypass alleles would be one evolutionary route for new gene expression patterns. Finally, cold-shock promoters showed unusual σ(54)-dependence in vivo not readily correlated with conventional σ(54) binding-sites. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Genome wide interactions of wild-type and activator bypass forms of σ54

PubMed Central

Schaefer, Jorrit; Engl, Christoph; Zhang, Nan; Lawton, Edward; Buck, Martin

2015-01-01

Enhancer-dependent transcription involving the promoter specificity factor σ54 is widely distributed amongst bacteria and commonly associated with cell envelope function. For transcription initiation, σ54-RNA polymerase yields open promoter complexes through its remodelling by cognate AAA+ ATPase activators. Since activators can be bypassed in vitro, bypass transcription in vivo could be a source of emergent gene expression along evolutionary pathways yielding new control networks and transcription patterns. At a single test promoter in vivo bypass transcription was not observed. We now use genome-wide transcription profiling, genome-wide mutagenesis and gene over-expression strategies in Escherichia coli, to (i) scope the range of bypass transcription in vivo and (ii) identify genes which might alter bypass transcription in vivo. We find little evidence for pervasive bypass transcription in vivo with only a small subset of σ54 promoters functioning without activators. Results also suggest no one gene limits bypass transcription in vivo, arguing bypass transcription is strongly kept in check. Promoter sequences subject to repression by σ54 were evident, indicating loss of rpoN (encoding σ54) rather than creating rpoN bypass alleles would be one evolutionary route for new gene expression patterns. Finally, cold-shock promoters showed unusual σ54-dependence in vivo not readily correlated with conventional σ54 binding-sites. PMID:26082500

An unusual cause of small bowel obstruction in children: lentil soup bezoar

PubMed Central

Plataras, Christos; Sardianos, Nektarios; Vlatakis, Stephanos; Nikas, Konstantinos

2014-01-01

Bezoars are an unusual cause of acute intestinal obstruction in children. Most cases are trichobezoars in adolescent girls who swallow their hair. Lactobezoars are another unusual but occasionally reported cause of intestinal obstruction in neonates. Phytobezoars and food bolus bezoars are the least common types of intestinal obstruction that have been reported in children. Of the few paediatric cases that have been described, the majority involve persimmons. Moreover, all of these cases involve the ingestion of raw fibres or fruit that have not been cooked. We report a case of a girl who presented with acute ileal obstruction because of lentil soup bezoar. Given the wide use of this otherwise nutritional foodstuff, we highlight the danger from its inappropriate preparation to the health of children. This is the first reported case of intestinal obstruction caused by lentils in children and we hope to raise concern among paediatricians regarding this matter. PMID:24692381

Probing the excited subband dispersion of holes confined to GaAs wide quantum wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, Insun; Liu, Yang; Deng, H.; Shayegan, M.; Pfeiffer, L. N.; West, K. W.; Baldwin, K. W.; Winkler, R.

Owing to the strong spin-orbit coupling and their large effective mass, the two-dimensional (2D) holes in modulation-doped GaAs quantum wells provide a fertile test bed to study the rich physics of low-dimensional systems. In a wide quantum well, even at moderate 2D densities, the holes start to occupy the excited subband, a subband whose dispersion is very unusual and has a non-monotonic dependence on the wave vector. Here, we study a 2D hole system confined to a 40-nm-thick (001) GaAs quantum well and demonstrate that, via the application of both front and back gates, the density can be tuned in a wide range, between ~1 and 2 ×1011 cm-2. Using Fourier analysis of the low-field Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, we investigate the population of holes and the spin-orbit interaction induced spin-splitting in different subbands. We discuss the results in light of self-consistent quantum calculations of magneto-oscillations. Work support by the DOE BES (DE-FG02-00-ER45841), the NSF (Grants DMR-1305691 and MRSEC DMR-1420541), the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Grant GBMF4420), and Keck Foundation for experiments, and the NSF Grant DMR-1310199 for calculations.

Cortical Odor Processing in Health and Disease

PubMed Central

Wilson, Donald A.; Xu, Wenjin; Sadrian, Benjamin; Courtiol, Emmanuelle; Cohen, Yaniv; Barnes, Dylan C.

2014-01-01

The olfactory system has a rich cortical representation, including a large archicortical component present in most vertebrates, and in mammals neocortical components including the entorhinal and orbitofrontal cortices. Together, these cortical components contribute to normal odor perception and memory. They help transform the physicochemical features of volatile molecules inhaled or exhaled through the nose into the perception of odor objects with rich associative and hedonic aspects. This chapter focuses on how olfactory cortical areas contribute to odor perception and begins to explore why odor perception is so sensitive to disease and pathology. Odor perception is disrupted by a wide range of disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, depression, autism, and early life exposure to toxins. This olfactory deficit often occurs despite maintained functioning in other sensory systems. Does the unusual network of olfactory cortical structures contribute to this sensitivity? PMID:24767487

Spin-Orbital Excitation Continuum and Anomalous Electron-Phonon Interaction in the Mott Insulator LaTiO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulrich, C.; Khaliullin, G.; Guennou, M.; Roth, H.; Lorenz, T.; Keimer, B.

2015-10-01

Raman scattering experiments on stoichiometric, Mott-insulating LaTiO3 over a wide range of excitation energies reveal a broad electronic continuum which is featureless in the paramagnetic state, but develops a gap of ˜800 cm-1 upon cooling below the Néel temperature TN=146 K . In the antiferromagnetic state, the spectral weight below the gap is transferred to well-defined spectral features due to spin and orbital excitations. Low-energy phonons exhibit pronounced Fano anomalies indicative of strong interaction with the electron system for T >TN , but become sharp and symmetric for T

Asymmetric twins in rhombohedral boron carbide

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

Fujita, Takeshi, E-mail: tfujita@wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp; Guan, Pengfei; Madhav Reddy, K.

2014-01-13

Superhard materials consisting of light elements have recently received considerable attention because of their ultrahigh specific strength for a wide range of applications as structural and functional materials. However, the failure mechanisms of these materials subjected to high stresses and dynamic loading remain to be poorly known. We report asymmetric twins in a complex compound, boron carbide (B{sub 4}C), characterized by spherical-aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy. The atomic structure of boron-rich icosahedra at rhombohedral vertices and cross-linked carbon-rich atomic chains can be clearly visualized, which reveals unusual asymmetric twins with detectable strains along the twin interfaces. This study offers atomic insightsmore » into the structure of twins in a complex material and has important implications in understanding the planar defect-related failure of superhard materials under high stresses and shock loading.« less

Focus: Darwin as a cultural icon.

PubMed

Secord, James A

2009-09-01

Since his death in 1882, if not before, Charles Darwin has been a key icon of the modern era. The bearded sage of Down House has been invoked in a wide range of contexts in the English-speaking world, from eugenics and social policy to debates about the implications of science for religious belief. The essays in this Focus section explore the Darwinian image in an unusual diversity of media, examining portrait photographs, portable sculptures,newspaper caricatures, cartoons, after-dinner drinking songs, and long-playing records. They suggest that Darwin's celebrity needs to be understood not as the outcome of the unique qualities of his life and work, but as an aspect of the emergence of the idea of the scientist, a process closely tied to the developing communication and entertainment industries of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Learning To Fold Proteins Using Energy Landscape Theory

PubMed Central

Schafer, N.P.; Kim, B.L.; Zheng, W.; Wolynes, P.G.

2014-01-01

This review is a tutorial for scientists interested in the problem of protein structure prediction, particularly those interested in using coarse-grained molecular dynamics models that are optimized using lessons learned from the energy landscape theory of protein folding. We also present a review of the results of the AMH/AMC/AMW/AWSEM family of coarse-grained molecular dynamics protein folding models to illustrate the points covered in the first part of the article. Accurate coarse-grained structure prediction models can be used to investigate a wide range of conceptual and mechanistic issues outside of protein structure prediction; specifically, the paper concludes by reviewing how AWSEM has in recent years been able to elucidate questions related to the unusual kinetic behavior of artificially designed proteins, multidomain protein misfolding, and the initial stages of protein aggregation. PMID:25308991

Elemental Levels Analyzed by PIXE in Florida Alligators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuharik, J. C.; Kravchenko, I. I.; Dunnam, F. E.; Van Rinsvelt, H. A.; Ross, J. P.

2003-08-01

Unusual and alarming mortality of alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) has been reported from Lake Griffin, Florida, where almost 400 dead alligators have been observed since 1997. In addition, the hatch rate for alligator eggs around Lake Griffin fell below 10% and remains low (30-45%) while the normal hatch rate is typically 80%. Standard diagnostic methods have been ineffective in determining the cause of the phenomenon. Many possibilities have been considered including pollutants, nutrition, and toxic algae. Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) analysis is highly suitable for investigating concentrations of a wide range of elements in animal tissue. Liver, kidney and spinal cord tissues from healthy and sick alligators have been analyzed by PIXE for elemental content. Initial results showed positive correlation between certain elements and neural impairment and morbidity of alligators in Lake Griffin, but have failed to prove significant.

Immunohistochemical mismatch in a case of rhabdomyoblastic metastatic melanoma.

PubMed

Dumitru, Adrian Vasile; Tampa, Mircea Ştefan; Georgescu, Simona Roxana; Păunică, Stana; Matei, Clara Nicoleta; Nica, Adriana Elena; Costache, Mariana; Motofei, Ion; Sajin, Maria; Păunică, Ioana; Georgescu, Tiberiu Augustin

2018-01-01

Melanomas can exhibit a wide range of unusual morphologies due to the neural crest origin of melanocytes. Several authors have documented variations in size and shape of cells, cytoplasmic features and inclusions, nuclear features and cell architecture. Metastatic melanoma with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation is an extremely rare condition with poor prognosis. Few studies concerning rhabdoid or rhabdomyoblastic differentiation in melanoma are currently available and the current report highlights some of the most important immunohistochemical features of this rare entity. We report on a case of a rhabdomyoblastic metastatic melanoma showing intense positivity for both melanocytic and rhabdoid markers in two cell populations dissociated within the tumor with multiple mismatches in immunomarker expression. Improved recognition of this rare morphological pattern may provide the means for developing new techniques to identify novel therapeutic targets, which would improve the prognostic outlook for these patients.

Approaching Solar Maximum 24 with Stereo-Multipoint Observations of Solar Energetic Particle Events

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dresing, N.; Cohen, C. M. S.; Gomez-Herrero, R.; Heber, B.; Klassen, A.; Leske, R. A.; Mason, G. M.; Mewaldt, R. A.; von Rosenvinge, T. T.

2014-01-01

Since the beginning of the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) mission at the end of 2006, the two spacecraft have now separated by more than 130? degrees from the Earth. A 360-degree view of the Sun has been possible since February 2011, providing multipoint in situ and remote sensing observations of unprecedented quality. Combining STEREO observations with near-Earth measurements allows the study of solar energetic particle (SEP) events over a wide longitudinal range with minimal radial gradient effects. This contribution provides an overview of recent results obtained by the STEREO/IMPACT team in combination with observations by the ACE and SOHO spacecraft. We focus especially on multi-spacecraft investigations of SEP events. The large longitudinal spread of electron and 3He-rich events as well as unusual anisotropies will be presented and discussed.

Mesospheric Temperature Structure during the GUARA Campaign and Comparison with the DROPPS and MaCWAVE Campaigns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidlin, F. J.; Goldberg, R. A.; Gerlach, John C. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

A significant number of passive inflatable falling spheres launched from Alcantara, Brazil (2S) during the MALTED campaign in August 1994 showed unusual temperature layering at 70 and 85 km, Reprocessing of the original radar position data reveal more consistent temperature inversions over time than was observed during the DROPPS campaign conducted from northern Scandinavia during July 1999. Comparison between falling sphere measurements and the HALOE instrument on UARS provides a now perspective about the atmospheric structure at two widely separated locations. The availability of NASA and Brazilian C-band radars established high confidence in the data quality during MALTED. A new campaign, MaCWAVE scheduled this summer from Andoys, Rocket Range, Norway (67N) will provide characteristics of gravity wave activity that will be compared with the MALTED temperature and wind profiles.

The Teaching of Literature.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O Cuilleanain, Cormac

Literature is authentic language, written with unusual care, skill, and language awareness. It is useful for teaching culture and civilization, but equally useful for teaching basic elements of language: grammar, vocabulary, rhythms, and registers. Literary skills are also widely used in everyday situations, with sophisticated literary techniques…

Conservation genetics of the alligator snapping turtle: cytonuclear evidence of range-wide bottleneck effects and unusually pronounced geographic structure

USGS Publications Warehouse

Echelle, A.A.; Hackler, J.C.; Lack, Justin B.; Ballard, S. R.; Roman, J.; Fox, S. F.; Leslie,, David M.; Van Den Bussche, Ronald A.

2010-01-01

A previous mtDNA study indicated that female-mediated gene flow was extremely rare among alligator snapping turtle populations in different drainages of the Gulf of Mexico. In this study, we used variation at seven microsatellite DNA loci to assess the possibility of male-mediated gene flow, we augmented the mtDNA survey with additional sampling of the large Mississippi River System, and we evaluated the hypothesis that the consistently low within-population mtDNA diversity reflects past population bottlenecks. The results show that dispersal between drainages of the Gulf of Mexico is rare (F STmsat  = 0.43, ΦSTmtDNA = 0.98). Past range-wide bottlenecks are indicated by several genetic signals, including low diversity for microsatellites (1.1–3.9 alleles/locus; H e = 0.06–0.53) and mtDNA (h = 0.00 for most drainages; π = 0.000–0.001). Microsatellite data reinforce the conclusion from mtDNA that the Suwannee River population might eventually be recognized as a distinct taxonomic unit. It was the only population showing fixation or near fixation for otherwise rare microsatellite alleles. Six evolutionarily significant units are recommended on the basis of reciprocal mtDNA monophyly and high levels of microsatellite DNA divergence.

Total colonic aganglionosis and imperforate anus in a severely affected infant with Pallister-Hall syndrome.

PubMed

Li, Mindy H; Eberhard, Moriah; Mudd, Pamela; Javia, Luv; Zimmerman, Robert; Khalek, Nahla; Zackai, Elaine H

2015-03-01

Pallister-Hall syndrome is a complex malformation syndrome characterized by a wide range of anomalies including hypothalamic hamartoma, polydactyly, bifid epiglottis, and genitourinary abnormalities. It is usually caused by truncating frameshift/nonsense and splicing mutations in the middle third of GLI3. The clinical course ranges from mild to lethal in the neonatal period. We present the first patient with Pallister-Hall syndrome reported with total colonic aganglionosis, a rare form of Hirschsprung disease with poor long-term outcome. The patient also had an imperforate anus, which is the third individual with Pallister-Hall syndrome reported with both Hirschsprung disease and an imperforate anus. Molecular testing via amniocentesis showed an apparently de novo novel nonsense mutation c.2641 C>T (p.Gln881*). His overall medical course was difficult and was complicated by respiratory failure and pan-hypopituitarism. Invasive care was ultimately withdrawn, and the patient expired at three months of age. This patient's phenotype was complex with unusual gastrointestinal features ultimately leading to a unfavorable prognosis and outcome, highlighting the range of clinical severity in patients with Pallister-Hall syndrome. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Layered Craters and Icy Plains

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-12-05

This highest-resolution image from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft reveals new details of Pluto's rugged, icy cratered plains. Notice the layering in the interior walls of many craters (the large crater at upper right is a good example) -- layers in geology usually mean an important change in composition or event but at the moment New Horizons team members do not know if they are seeing local, regional or global layering. The darker crater in the lower center is apparently younger than the others, because dark material ejected from within -- its "ejecta blanket" -- have not been erased and can still be made out. The origin of the many dark linear features trending roughly vertically in the bottom half of the image is under debate, but may be tectonic. Most of the craters seen here lie within the 155-mile (250-kilometer)-wide Burney Basin, whose outer rim or ring forms the line of hills or low mountains at bottom. The basin is informally named after Venetia Burney, the English schoolgirl who first proposed the name "Pluto" for the newly discovered planet in 1930. The top of the image is to Pluto's northwest. These images were made with the telescopic Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) aboard New Horizons, in a timespan of about a minute centered on 11:36 UT on July 14 -- just about 15 minutes before New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto-- from a range of just 10,000 miles (17,000 kilometers). They were obtained with an unusual observing mode; instead of working in the usual "point and shoot," LORRI snapped pictures every three seconds while the Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC) aboard New Horizons was scanning the surface. This mode requires unusually short exposures to avoid blurring the images. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20200

Cave speleothems as repositories of microbial biosignatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Ana Z.; Jurado, Valme; Pereira, Manuel F. C.; Fernández, Octavio; Calaforra, José M.; Dionísio, Amélia; Saiz-Jimenez, Cesareo

2015-04-01

The need to better understand the biodiversity, origins of life on Earth and on other planets, and the wide applications of the microbe-mineral interactions have led to a rapid expansion of interest in subsurface environments. Recently reported results indicated signs of an early wet Mars and rather recent volcanic activity which suggest that Mars's subsurface can house organic molecules or traces of microbial life, making the search for microbial life on Earth's subsurface even more compelling. Caves on Earth are windows into the subsurface that harbor a wide variety of mineral-utilizing microorganisms, which may contribute to the formation of biominerals and unusual microstructures recognized as biosignatures. These environments contain a wide variety of redox interfaces and stable physicochemical conditions, which enhance secondary mineral precipitation and microbial growth under limited organic nutrient inputs. Enigmatic microorganisms and unusual mineral features have been found associated with secondary mineral deposits or speleothems in limestone caves and lava tubes. In this study, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses were conducted on cave speleothem samples to assess microbe-mineral interactions, evaluate biogenicity, as well as to describe unusual mineral formations and microbial features. Microbial mats, extracellular polymeric substances, tubular empty sheaths, mineralized cells, filamentous fabrics, as well as "cell-sized" etch pits or microborings produced by bacterial cells were observed on minerals. These features evidence microbe-mineral interactions and may represent mineralogical signatures of life. We can thus consider that caves on Earth are plausible repositories of terrestrial biosignatures where we can look for microbial signatures. Acknowledgments: AZM acknowledges the support from the Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme (PIEF-GA-2012-328689- DECAVE). The authors acknowledge the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (project CGL2013-41674-P) for financial support.

Surgical repair of an unusual type of supra-cardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the superior vena cava.

PubMed

Perri, Gianluigi; Filippelli, Sergio; Kirk, Richard; Hasan, Asif; Griselli, Massimo

2012-05-01

Anomalies of the pulmonary venous drainage vary widely in their anatomic spectrum and clinical presentation. We describe an unusual case of supra-cardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), where the pulmonary veins drained directly in the posterior aspect of proximal right superior vena cava (SVC) through separate ostia. The veins were re-routed with a patch to the left atrium via the secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). The continuity between distal SVC and right atrium was re-established by re-implanting the SVC to the right atrial appendage (Warden Procedure). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Genomic Analysis of Phylotype I Strain EP1 Reveals Substantial Divergence from Other Strains in the Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex

PubMed Central

Li, Peng; Wang, Dechen; Yan, Jinli; Zhou, Jianuan; Deng, Yinyue; Jiang, Zide; Cao, Bihao; He, Zifu; Zhang, Lianhui

2016-01-01

Ralstonia solanacearum species complex is a devastating group of phytopathogens with an unusually wide host range and broad geographical distribution. R. solanacearum isolates may differ considerably in various properties including host range and pathogenicity, but the underlying genetic bases remain vague. Here, we conducted the genome sequencing of strain EP1 isolated from Guangdong Province of China, which belongs to phylotype I and is highly virulent to a range of solanaceous crops. Its complete genome contains a 3.95-Mb chromosome and a 2.05-Mb mega-plasmid, which is considerably bigger than reported genomes of other R. solanacearum strains. Both the chromosome and the mega-plasmid have essential house-keeping genes and many virulence genes. Comparative analysis of strain EP1 with other 3 phylotype I and 3 phylotype II, III, IV strains unveiled substantial genome rearrangements, insertions and deletions. Genome sequences are relatively conserved among the 4 phylotype I strains, but more divergent among strains of different phylotypes. Moreover, the strains exhibited considerable variations in their key virulence genes, including those encoding secretion systems and type III effectors. Our results provide valuable information for further elucidation of the genetic basis of diversified virulences and host range of R. solanacearum species. PMID:27833603

Unusual solvatochromic absorbance probe behaviour within mixtures of poly(ethylene glycol)-400 + ionic liquid, [bmim][Tf2N

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Anwar; Ali, Maroof; Malik, Nisar Ahmad; Uzair, Sahar

2014-03-01

The potentially green solvents made up of ionic liquids (ILs) and poly(ethylene glycols) may have wide range of the applications in many chemical and biochemical fields. In the present work, solvatochromic absorbance probe behaviour is used to assess the physicochemical properties of the mixtures composed of PEG-400 + IL, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [bmim][Tf2N]. Lowest energy intramolecular charge-transfer absorbance maxima of a betaine dye, i.e., ETN , indicates the dipolarity/polarizability and/or hydrogen-bond donating (HBD) acidity of the [bmim][Tf2N] + PEG-400 mixtures to be even higher than that of neat [bmim][Tf2N], the solution component with higher dipolarity/polarizability and/or HBD acidity. Dipolarity/polarizability (π∗) obtained separately from the electronic absorbance response of probe N,N-diethyl-4-nitroaniline, and the HBD acidity (α) of PEG-400 + [bmim][Tf2N] mixtures are also observed to be anomalously high. A comparative study of the PEG + IL mixtures has also been done with PEG-400 + molecular organic solvents (protic polar [methanol], aprotic polar [N,N-dimethylformamide], and non polar, [benzene]) mixtures, but these mixtures do not show this type of unusual behaviour. A four-parameter simplified combined nearly ideal binary solvent/Redlich-Kister (CNIBS/R-K) equation is shown to satisfactorily predict the solvatochromic parameters within PEG-400 + different solvent mixtures.

23 CFR 668.203 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... facilities not existing prior to the natural disaster or catastrophic failure such as additional lanes... immediately after a natural disaster or catastrophic failure (1) to restore essential travel, (2) to protect... disaster over a wide area, or (2) a catastrophic failure. (g) Natural disaster. An unusual natural...

23 CFR 668.203 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... facilities not existing prior to the natural disaster or catastrophic failure such as additional lanes... immediately after a natural disaster or catastrophic failure (1) to restore essential travel, (2) to protect... disaster over a wide area, or (2) a catastrophic failure. (g) Natural disaster. An unusual natural...

23 CFR 668.203 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... facilities not existing prior to the natural disaster or catastrophic failure such as additional lanes... immediately after a natural disaster or catastrophic failure (1) to restore essential travel, (2) to protect... disaster over a wide area, or (2) a catastrophic failure. (g) Natural disaster. An unusual natural...

23 CFR 668.203 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... facilities not existing prior to the natural disaster or catastrophic failure such as additional lanes... immediately after a natural disaster or catastrophic failure (1) to restore essential travel, (2) to protect... disaster over a wide area, or (2) a catastrophic failure. (g) Natural disaster. An unusual natural...

A Case of Unusual Clitoromegaly.

PubMed

Wooi Ch'ng, Tong; Umpaichitra, Vatcharapan

2018-05-03

Mild degree of clitoromegaly can be associated with patient with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). We describe an unusually significant clitoromegaly in a patient with PCOS. An 18-year old non-obese female referred for clitoromegaly. Her genitalia exam showed significant clitoral enlargement with a well-formed glans, clitoris measured at 35 mm for length and 10 mm for width. Pelvic ultrasound showed left ovarian cyst. Testosterone level ranged from 28.8 to 64.1 ng/dl (normal: 8.4-48.1 ng/dl) with normal sex hormone binding globulin. Other ovarian hormones were in acceptable ranges. This case demonstrates the coexistence of significant clitoromegaly, PCOS, and non-functioning ovarian cyst. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

New methods in hydrologic modeling and decision support for culvert flood risk under climate change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosner, A.; Letcher, B. H.; Vogel, R. M.; Rees, P. S.

2015-12-01

Assessing culvert flood vulnerability under climate change poses an unusual combination of challenges. We seek a robust method of planning for an uncertain future, and therefore must consider a wide range of plausible future conditions. Culverts in our case study area, northwestern Massachusetts, USA, are predominantly found in small, ungaged basins. The need to predict flows both at numerous sites and under numerous plausible climate conditions requires a statistical model with low data and computational requirements. We present a statistical streamflow model that is driven by precipitation and temperature, allowing us to predict flows without reliance on reference gages of observed flows. The hydrological analysis is used to determine each culvert's risk of failure under current conditions. We also explore the hydrological response to a range of plausible future climate conditions. These results are used to determine the tolerance of each culvert to future increases in precipitation. In a decision support context, current flood risk as well as tolerance to potential climate changes are used to provide a robust assessment and prioritization for culvert replacements.

A wide depth distribution of seismic tremors along the northern Cascadia margin.

PubMed

Kao, Honn; Shan, Shao-Ju; Dragert, Herb; Rogers, Garry; Cassidy, John F; Ramachandran, Kumar

2005-08-11

The Cascadia subduction zone is thought to be capable of generating major earthquakes with moment magnitude as large as M(w) = 9 at an interval of several hundred years. The seismogenic portion of the plate interface is mostly offshore and is currently locked, as inferred from geodetic data. However, episodic surface displacements-in the direction opposite to the long-term deformation motions caused by relative plate convergence across a locked interface-are observed about every 14 months with an unusual tremor-like seismic signature. Here we show that these tremors are distributed over a depth range exceeding 40 km within a limited horizontal band. Many occurred within or close to the strong seismic reflectors above the plate interface where local earthquakes are absent, suggesting that the seismogenic process for tremors is fluid-related. The observed depth range implies that tremors could be associated with the variation of stress field induced by a transient slip along the deeper portion of the Cascadia interface or, alternatively, that episodic slip is more diffuse than originally suggested.

A physical perspective on cytoplasmic streaming

PubMed Central

Goldstein, Raymond E.; van de Meent, Jan-Willem

2015-01-01

Organisms show a remarkable range of sizes, yet the dimensions of a single cell rarely exceed 100 µm. While the physical and biological origins of this constraint remain poorly understood, exceptions to this rule give valuable insights. A well-known counterexample is the aquatic plant Chara, whose cells can exceed 10 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter. Two spiralling bands of molecular motors at the cell periphery drive the cellular fluid up and down at speeds up to 100 µm s−1, motion that has been hypothesized to mitigate the slowness of metabolite transport on these scales and to aid in homeostasis. This is the most organized instance of a broad class of continuous motions known as ‘cytoplasmic streaming’, found in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms—algae, plants, amoebae, nematodes and flies—often in unusually large cells. In this overview of the physics of this phenomenon, we examine the interplay between streaming, transport and cell size and discuss the possible role of self-organization phenomena in establishing the observed patterns of streaming. PMID:26464789

Anomalous High-Energy Waterfall-Like Electronic Structure in 5 d Transition Metal Oxide Sr2IrO4 with a Strong Spin-Orbit Coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yan; Yu, Li; Jia, Xiaowen; Zhao, Jianzhou; Weng, Hongming; Peng, Yingying; Chen, Chaoyu; Xie, Zhuojin; Mou, Daixiang; He, Junfeng; Liu, Xu; Feng, Ya; Yi, Hemian; Zhao, Lin; Liu, Guodong; He, Shaolong; Dong, Xiaoli; Zhang, Jun; Xu, Zuyan; Chen, Chuangtian; Cao, Gang; Dai, Xi; Fang, Zhong; Zhou, X. J.

2015-08-01

The low energy electronic structure of Sr2IrO4 has been well studied and understood in terms of an effective Jeff = 1/2 Mott insulator model. However, little work has been done in studying its high energy electronic behaviors. Here we report a new observation of the anomalous high energy electronic structure in Sr2IrO4. By taking high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission measurements on Sr2IrO4 over a wide energy range, we have revealed for the first time that the high energy electronic structures show unusual nearly-vertical bands that extend over a large energy range. Such anomalous high energy behaviors resemble the high energy waterfall features observed in the cuprate superconductors. While strong electron correlation plays an important role in producing high energy waterfall features in the cuprate superconductors, the revelation of the high energy anomalies in Sr2IrO4, which exhibits strong spin-orbit coupling and a moderate electron correlation, points to an unknown and novel route in generating exotic electronic excitations.

Anomalous High-Energy Waterfall-Like Electronic Structure in 5 d Transition Metal Oxide Sr2IrO4 with a Strong Spin-Orbit Coupling.

PubMed

Liu, Yan; Yu, Li; Jia, Xiaowen; Zhao, Jianzhou; Weng, Hongming; Peng, Yingying; Chen, Chaoyu; Xie, Zhuojin; Mou, Daixiang; He, Junfeng; Liu, Xu; Feng, Ya; Yi, Hemian; Zhao, Lin; Liu, Guodong; He, Shaolong; Dong, Xiaoli; Zhang, Jun; Xu, Zuyan; Chen, Chuangtian; Cao, Gang; Dai, Xi; Fang, Zhong; Zhou, X J

2015-08-12

The low energy electronic structure of Sr2IrO4 has been well studied and understood in terms of an effective Jeff = 1/2 Mott insulator model. However, little work has been done in studying its high energy electronic behaviors. Here we report a new observation of the anomalous high energy electronic structure in Sr2IrO4. By taking high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission measurements on Sr2IrO4 over a wide energy range, we have revealed for the first time that the high energy electronic structures show unusual nearly-vertical bands that extend over a large energy range. Such anomalous high energy behaviors resemble the high energy waterfall features observed in the cuprate superconductors. While strong electron correlation plays an important role in producing high energy waterfall features in the cuprate superconductors, the revelation of the high energy anomalies in Sr2IrO4, which exhibits strong spin-orbit coupling and a moderate electron correlation, points to an unknown and novel route in generating exotic electronic excitations.

The magnetic and crystal structures of Sr2IrO4: A neutron diffraction study

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

Ye, Feng; Chi, Songxue; Chakoumakos, Bryan C

2013-01-01

We report a single-crystal neutron diffraction study of the layered Sr2IrO4. This work unambigu- ously determines the magnetic and crystal structures, and reveals that the spin orientation rigidly tracks the staggered rotation of the IrO6 octahedra in Sr2IrO4. The long-range antiferromagnetic order has a canted spin configuration with an ordered moment of 0.208(3) B/Ir site within the basal plane; a detailed examination of the spin canting yields 0.202(3) and 0.049(2) B/site for the a-axis and the b-axis, respectively. It is intriguing that forbidden nuclear reflections of space group I41/acd are also observed in a wide temperature range from 4 Kmore » to 600 K, which suggests a reduced crystal structure symmetry. This neutron scattering work provides a direct, well-refined experimen- tal characterization of the magnetic and crystal structures that are crucial to the understanding of the unconventional magnetism existent in this unusual magnetic insulator.« less

Soft network materials with isotropic negative Poisson's ratios over large strains.

PubMed

Liu, Jianxing; Zhang, Yihui

2018-01-31

Auxetic materials with negative Poisson's ratios have important applications across a broad range of engineering areas, such as biomedical devices, aerospace engineering and automotive engineering. A variety of design strategies have been developed to achieve artificial auxetic materials with controllable responses in the Poisson's ratio. The development of designs that can offer isotropic negative Poisson's ratios over large strains can open up new opportunities in emerging biomedical applications, which, however, remains a challenge. Here, we introduce deterministic routes to soft architected materials that can be tailored precisely to yield the values of Poisson's ratio in the range from -1 to 1, in an isotropic manner, with a tunable strain range from 0% to ∼90%. The designs rely on a network construction in a periodic lattice topology, which incorporates zigzag microstructures as building blocks to connect lattice nodes. Combined experimental and theoretical studies on broad classes of network topologies illustrate the wide-ranging utility of these concepts. Quantitative mechanics modeling under both infinitesimal and finite deformations allows the development of a rigorous design algorithm that determines the necessary network geometries to yield target Poisson ratios over desired strain ranges. Demonstrative examples in artificial skin with both the negative Poisson's ratio and the nonlinear stress-strain curve precisely matching those of the cat's skin and in unusual cylindrical structures with engineered Poisson effect and shape memory effect suggest potential applications of these network materials.

Unusual solar energetic proton fluxes at 1 AU within an interplanetary CME

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulligan, T.; Blake, J. B.; Mewaldt, R. A.

In mid December 2006 several flares on the Sun occurred in rapid succession, spawning several CMEs and bathing the Earth in multiple solar energetic particle (SEP) events. One such SEP occurring on December 15th was observed at the Earth just as an interplanetary CME (ICME) from a previous flare on December 13th was transiting the Earth. Although solar wind observations during this time show typical energetic proton fluxes from the prior SEP and IP shock driven ahead of the ICME, as the ICME passes the Earth unusual energetic particle signatures are observed. Measurements from ACE, Wind, and STEREO show unusual proton flux variations at energies ranging from ~3 MeV up to greater than 70 MeV. Within the Earth’s magnetosphere Polar HIST also sees unusual proton flux variations at energies greater than 10 MeV while crossing open field lines in the southern polar cap. However, no such variation in the energetic proton flux is observed at the GOES 10 or GOES 11 spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit. Differential fluxes observed at GOES 12 in the 15-40 MeV energy range show some variation. However, the overall energetic particle signature within the ICME at GEO orbits remains unclear. This event illustrates the need for caution when using GEO data in statistical studies of SEP events and in interplanetary models of energetic particle transport to 1 AU.

Pressure effect on the long-range order in CeB6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sera, M.; Ikeda, S.; Iwakubo, H.; Uwatoko, Y.; Hane, S.; Kosaka, M.; Kunii, S.

2006-08-01

The pressure effect of CeB6 was investigated. The pressure dependence of the Néel temperature, TN and the critical field from the antiferro-magnetic phase III to antiferro-quadrupolar phase II, HcIII-II of CeB6 exhibits the unusual pressure dependence that the suppression rate of HcIII-II is much larger than that of TN. In order to explain this unusual result, we have performed the mean field calculation for the 4-sublattice model assuming that the pressure dependence of TN, the antiferro-octupolar and quadrupolar temperatures, Toct and TQ as follows; dTN/dP<0, dToct/dP>dTQ/dP>0 and could explain the unusual pressure dependence of TN and HcIII-II.

Unusual ferromagnetic critical behavior owing to short-range antiferromagnetic correlations in antiperovskite Cu1-xNMn3+x (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.4)

PubMed Central

Lin, Jianchao; Tong, Peng; Cui, Dapeng; Yang, Cheng; Yang, Jie; Lin, Shuai; Wang, Bosen; Tong, Wei; Zhang, Lei; Zou, Youming; Sun, Yuping

2015-01-01

For ferromagnets, varying from simple metals to strongly correlated oxides,the critical behaviors near the Curie temperature (TC) can be grouped into several universal classes. In this paper, we report an unusual critical behavior in manganese nitrides Cu1-xNMn3+x (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.4). Although the critical behavior below TC can be well described by mean field (MF) theory, robust critical fluctuations beyond the expectations of any universal classes are observed above TC in x = 0.1. The critical fluctuations become weaker when x increases, and the MF-like critical behavior is finally restored at x = 0.4. In addition, the paramagnetic susceptibility of all the samples deviates from the Curie-Weiss (CW) law just above TC. This deviation is gradually smeared as x increases. The short-range antiferromagnetic ordering above TC revealed by our electron spin resonance measurement explains both the unusual critical behavior and the breakdown of the CW law. PMID:25604754

Portal vein thrombosis: a clinician-oriented and practical review.

PubMed

Handa, Pankaj; Crowther, Mark; Douketis, James D

2014-07-01

With advances in modern imaging techniques, portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is being increasingly diagnosed. It has a wide ranging clinical spectrum from being an asymptomatic state to a potentially life-threatening situation. It is not unusual to find it as an incidental finding in the abdominal imagings done for other reasons. It is commonly associated with cirrhosis and abdominal malignancies and also has a strong association with prothrombotic disorders. It is often difficult for the clinicians to decide whether PVT is acute or chronic. This poses great challenges to its management strategies that include anticoagulants, thrombolysis, and surgical options. Timely diagnosis and appropriate management have great bearings on its outcomes of morbidity and mortality. In this clinician-oriented review, we have provided a concise review of clinical aspects of PVT and discussed various management strategies while addressing the common questions that come to a physician's mind dealing with such a patient. © The Author(s) 2013.

An unusual type of polymorphism in a liquid crystal

DOE PAGES

Li, Lin; Salamonczyk, Miroslaw; Shadpour, Sasan; ...

2018-02-19

Polymorphism is a remarkable concept in chemistry, materials science, computer science, and biology. Whether it is the ability of a material to exist in two or more crystal structures, a single interface connecting to two different entities, or alternative phenotypes of an organism, polymorphism determines function and properties. In materials science, polymorphism can be found in an impressively wide range of materials, including crystalline materials, minerals, metals, alloys, and polymers. Here in this paper we report on polymorphism in a liquid crystal. A bent-core liquid crystal with a single chiral side chain forms two structurally and morphologically significantly different liquidmore » crystal phases solely depending on the cooling rate from the isotropic liquid state. On slow cooling, the thermodynamically more stable oblique columnar phase forms, and on rapid cooling, a not heretofore reported helical microfilament phase. Since structure determines function and properties, the structural color for these phases also differs.« less

Detailed performance analysis of the A.A.D. - concept B

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sekar, R.; Tozzi, L.

1983-01-01

New concepts for engine performance improvement are seen through the adoption of heat regeneration techniques; advanced methods to enhance the combustion; and higher efficiency air handling machinery, such as the positive displacement helical screw expander and compressor. Each of these concepts plays a particular role in engine performance improvement. First regeneration has a great potential for achieving higher engine thermal efficiency through the recovery of waste energy. Although the concept itself is not new (this technique is used in the gas turbine), the application to reciprocating internal combustion engines is quite unusual and presents conceptual difficulties. The second important area is better control of the combustion process in terms of heat transfer characteristics, combustion products, and heat release rate. The third area for performance improvement is in the adoption of high efficiency air handling machinery. In particular, positive displacement helical expander and compressor exhibit an extremely high efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions.

Online Learning Tools as Supplements for Basic and Clinical Science Education.

PubMed

Ellman, Matthew S; Schwartz, Michael L

2016-01-01

Undergraduate medical educators are increasingly incorporating online learning tools into basic and clinical science curricula. In this paper, we explore the diversity of online learning tools and consider the range of applications for these tools in classroom and bedside learning. Particular advantages of these tools are highlighted, such as delivering foundational knowledge as part of the "flipped classroom" pedagogy and for depicting unusual physical examination findings and advanced clinical communication skills. With accelerated use of online learning, educators and administrators need to consider pedagogic and practical challenges posed by integrating online learning into individual learning activities, courses, and curricula as a whole. We discuss strategies for faculty development and the role of school-wide resources for supporting and using online learning. Finally, we consider the role of online learning in interprofessional, integrated, and competency-based applications among other contemporary trends in medical education are considered.

Investigation of transonic region of high dynamic response encountered on an elastic supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seidel, David A.; Eckstrom, Clinton V.; Sandford, Maynard C.

1987-01-01

Unsteady aerodynamic data were measured on an aspect ratio 10.3 elastic supercritical wing while undergoing high dynamic response above Mach number of 0.90. These tests were conducted in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. A previous test of this wing predicted an unusual instability boundary based upon subcritical response data. During the present test no instability was found, but an angle of attack dependent narrow Mach number region of high dynamic wing response was observed over a wide range of dynamic pressures. The effect on dynamic wing response of wing angle of attack, static outboard control surface deflection and a lower surface spanwise fence located near the 60 percent local chordline was investigated. The driving mechanism of the dynamic wing response appears to be related to chordwise shock movement in conjunction with flow separation and reattachment on both the upper and lower surfaces.

Investigation of transonic region of high dynamic response encountered on an elastic supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seidel, David A.; Eckstrom, Clinton V.; Sandford, Maynard C.

1987-01-01

Unsteady aerodynamic data were measured on an aspect ratio 10.3 elastic supercritical wing while undergoing high dynamic response above a Mach number of 0.90. These tests were conducted in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. A previous test of this wing predicted an unusual instability boundary based on subcritical response data. During the present test no instability was found, but an angle of attack dependent narrow Mach number region of high dynamic wing response was observed over a wide range of dynamic pressures. The effect on dynamic wing response of wing angle of attack, static outbound control surface deflection and a lower surface spanwise fence located near the 60 percent local chordline was investigated. The driving mechanism of the dynamic wing response appears to be related to chordwise shock movement in conjunction with flow separation and reattachment on both the upper and lower surfaces.

Bulk and Thin film Properties of Nanoparticle-based Ionic Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Jason

2008-03-01

Nanoparticle-based ionic materials (NIMS) offer exciting opportunities for research at the forefront of science and engineering. NIMS are hybrid particles comprised of a charged oligomeric corona attached to hard, inorganic nanoparticle cores. Because of their hybrid nature, physical properties --rheological, optical, electrical, thermal - of NIMS can be tailored over an unusually wide range by varying geometric and chemical characteristics of the core and canopy and thermodynamic variables such as temperature and volume fraction. On one end of the spectrum are materials with a high core content, which display properties similar to crystalline solids, stiff waxes, and gels. At the opposite extreme are systems that spontaneously form particle-based fluids characterized by transport properties remarkably similar to simple liquids. In this poster I will present our efforts to synthesize NIMS and discuss their bulk and surface properties. In particular I will discuss our work on preparing smart surfaces using NIMS.

Dictyostelium RasG Is Required for Normal Motility and Cytokinesis, But Not Growth

PubMed Central

Tuxworth, Richard I.; Cheetham, Janet L.; Machesky, Laura M.; Spiegelmann, George B.; Weeks, Gerald; Insall, Robert H.

1997-01-01

RasG is the most abundant Ras protein in growing Dictyostelium cells and the closest relative of mammalian Ras proteins. We have generated null mutants in which expression of RasG is completely abolished. Unexpectedly, RasG − cells are able to grow at nearly wild-type rates. However, they exhibit defective cell movement and a wide range of defects in the control of the actin cytoskeleton, including a loss of cell polarity, absence of normal lamellipodia, formation of unusual small, punctate polymerized actin structures, and a large number of abnormally long filopodia. Despite their lack of polarity and abnormal cytoskeleton, mutant cells perform normal chemotaxis. However, rasG − cells are unable to perform normal cytokinesis, becoming multinucleate when grown in suspension culture. Taken together, these data suggest a principal role for RasG in coordination of cell movement and control of the cytoskeleton. PMID:9245789

Commentaries on “Informatics and Medicine: From Molecules to Populations”

PubMed Central

Altman, R. B.; Balling, R.; Brinkley, J. F.; Coiera, E.; Consorti, F.; Dhansay, M. A.; Geissbuhler, A.; Hersh, W.; Kwankam, S. Y.; Lorenzi, N. M.; Martin-Sanchez, F.; Mihalas, G. I.; Shahar, Y.; Takabayashi, K.; Wiederhold, G.

2009-01-01

Summary Objective To discuss interdisciplinary research and education in the context of informatics and medicine by commenting on the paper of Kuhn et al. “Informatics and Medicine: From Molecules to Populations”. Method Inviting an international group of experts in biomedical and health informatics and related disciplines to comment on this paper. Results and Conclusions The commentaries include a wide range of reasoned arguments and original position statements which, while strongly endorsing the educational needs identified by Kuhn et al., also point out fundamental challenges that are very specific to the unusual combination of scientific, technological, personal and social problems characterizing biomedical informatics. They point to the ultimate objectives of managing difficult human health problems, which are unlikely to yield to technological solutions alone. The psychological, societal, and environmental components of health and disease are emphasized by several of the commentators, setting the stage for further debate and constructive suggestions. PMID:18690363

Elasto visco-plastic flow with special attention to boundary conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shimazaki, Y.; Thompson, E. G.

1981-01-01

A simple but nontrivial steady-state creeping elasto visco-plastic (Maxwell fluid) radial flow problem is analyzed, with special attention given to the effects of the boundary conditions. Solutions are obtained through integration of a governing equation on stress using the Runge-Kutta method for initial value problems and finite differences for boundary value problems. A more general approach through the finite element method, an approach that solves for the velocity field rather than the stress field and that is applicable to a wide range of problems, is presented and tested using the radial flow example. It is found that steady-state flows of elasto visco-plastic materials are strongly influenced by the state of stress of material as it enters the region of interest. The importance of this boundary or initial condition in analyses involving materials coming into control volumes from unusual stress environments is emphasized.

A SIMS study of lunar 'komatiitic glasses' - Trace element characteristics and possible origin

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shearer, C. K.; Papike, J. J.; Galbreath, K. C.; Wentworth, S. J.; Shimizu, N.

1990-01-01

In Apollo 16 regolith breccias, Wentworth and McKay (1988) identified a suite of minute (less than 120 microns) 'komatiitic glass beads'. The wide major element compositional range, and ultra-Mg-prime character of the glasses suggest a variety of possible origins from complex impact processes to complex volcanic processes involving rather unusual and primitive magmatism. The extent of trace element depletion or enrichment in these glasses appears to be correlated to the siderophile character of the element (ionization potential or experimentally determined silicate melt/Fe metal partition coefficients. The ultra-Mg-prime glasses are depleted in Co relative to a bulk Moon Mg/Co exhibited by many lunar samples (volcanic glasses, basalts, regolith breccia, estimated upper mantle). The low Co and high incompatible element concentrations diminish the possibility that these glasses are a product of lunar komatiitic volcanism or impact, excavation, and melting of a very high Mg-prime plutonic unit.

Design features and operational characteristics of the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kilgore, R. A.

1976-01-01

Experience with the Langley 0.3 meter transonic cryogenic tunnel, which is fan driven, indicated that such a tunnel presents no unusual design difficulties and is simple to operate. Purging, cooldown, and warmup times were acceptable and were predicted with good accuracy. Cooling with liquid nitrogen was practical over a wide range of operating conditions at power levels required for transonic testing, and good temperature distributions were obtained by using a simple liquid nitrogen injection system. To take full advantage of the unique Reynolds number capabilities of the 0.3 meter transonic tunnel, it was designed to accommodate test sections other than the original, octagonal, three dimensional test section. A 20- by 60-cm two dimensional test section was recently installed and is being calibrated. A two dimensional test section with self-streamlining walls and a test section incorporating a magnetic suspension and balance system are being considered.

Patterned piezo-, pyro-, and ferroelectricity of poled polymer electrets

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

Qiu, Xunlin

2010-07-01

Polymers with strong piezo-, pyro-, and ferroelectricity are attractive for a wide range of applications. In particular, semicrystalline ferroelectric polymers are suitable for a large variety of piezo- and pyroelectric transducers or sensors, while amorphous polymers containing chromophore molecules are particularly interesting for photonic devices. Recently, a new class of polymer materials has been added to this family: internally charged cellular space-charge polymer electrets (so-called “ferroelectrets”), whose piezoelectricity can be orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional ferroelectric polymers. Suitable patterning of these materials leads to improved or unusual macroscopic piezo-, pyro-, and ferroelectric or nonlinear optical properties thatmore » may be particularly useful for advanced transducer or waveguide applications. In the present paper, the piezo-, pyro-, and ferroelectricity of poled polymers is briefly introduced, an overview on the preparation of polymer electrets with patterned piezo-, pyro-, and ferroelectricity is provided and a survey of selected applications is presented.« less

Origin of long lifetime of band-edge charge carriers in organic–inorganic lead iodide perovskites

PubMed Central

Chen, Tianran; Chen, Wei-Liang; Foley, Benjamin J.; Lee, Jooseop; Ruff, Jacob P. C.; Ko, J. Y. Peter; Brown, Craig M.; Harriger, Leland W.; Zhang, Depei; Park, Changwon; Yoon, Mina; Chang, Yu-Ming; Choi, Joshua J.; Lee, Seung-Hun

2017-01-01

Long carrier lifetime is what makes hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites high-performance photovoltaic materials. Several microscopic mechanisms behind the unusually long carrier lifetime have been proposed, such as formation of large polarons, Rashba effect, ferroelectric domains, and photon recycling. Here, we show that the screening of band-edge charge carriers by rotation of organic cation molecules can be a major contribution to the prolonged carrier lifetime. Our results reveal that the band-edge carrier lifetime increases when the system enters from a phase with lower rotational entropy to another phase with higher entropy. These results imply that the recombination of the photoexcited electrons and holes is suppressed by the screening, leading to the formation of polarons and thereby extending the lifetime. Thus, searching for organic–inorganic perovskites with high rotational entropy over a wide range of temperature may be a key to achieve superior solar cell performance. PMID:28673975

Origin of long lifetime of band-edge charge carriers in organic-inorganic lead iodide perovskites.

PubMed

Chen, Tianran; Chen, Wei-Liang; Foley, Benjamin J; Lee, Jooseop; Ruff, Jacob P C; Ko, J Y Peter; Brown, Craig M; Harriger, Leland W; Zhang, Depei; Park, Changwon; Yoon, Mina; Chang, Yu-Ming; Choi, Joshua J; Lee, Seung-Hun

2017-07-18

Long carrier lifetime is what makes hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites high-performance photovoltaic materials. Several microscopic mechanisms behind the unusually long carrier lifetime have been proposed, such as formation of large polarons, Rashba effect, ferroelectric domains, and photon recycling. Here, we show that the screening of band-edge charge carriers by rotation of organic cation molecules can be a major contribution to the prolonged carrier lifetime. Our results reveal that the band-edge carrier lifetime increases when the system enters from a phase with lower rotational entropy to another phase with higher entropy. These results imply that the recombination of the photoexcited electrons and holes is suppressed by the screening, leading to the formation of polarons and thereby extending the lifetime. Thus, searching for organic-inorganic perovskites with high rotational entropy over a wide range of temperature may be a key to achieve superior solar cell performance.

Electron-trapping polycrystalline materials with negative electron affinity.

PubMed

McKenna, Keith P; Shluger, Alexander L

2008-11-01

The trapping of electrons by grain boundaries in semiconducting and insulating materials is important for a wide range of physical problems, for example, relating to: electroceramic materials with applications as sensors, varistors and fuel cells, reliability issues for solar cell and semiconductor technologies and electromagnetic seismic phenomena in the Earth's crust. Surprisingly, considering their relevance for applications and abundance in the environment, there have been few experimental or theoretical studies of the electron trapping properties of grain boundaries in highly ionic materials such as the alkaline earth metal oxides and alkali halides. Here we demonstrate, by first-principles calculations on MgO, LiF and NaCl, a qualitatively new type of electron trapping at grain boundaries. This trapping is associated with the negative electron affinity of these materials and is unusual as the electron is confined in the empty space inside the dislocation cores.

Phase Coexistence in a Dynamic Phase Diagram.

PubMed

Gentile, Luigi; Coppola, Luigi; Balog, Sandor; Mortensen, Kell; Ranieri, Giuseppe A; Olsson, Ulf

2015-08-03

Metastability and phase coexistence are important concepts in colloidal science. Typically, the phase diagram of colloidal systems is considered at the equilibrium without the presence of an external field. However, several studies have reported phase transition under mechanical deformation. The reason behind phase coexistence under shear flow is not fully understood. Here, multilamellar vesicle (MLV)-to-sponge (L3 ) and MLV-to-Lα transitions upon increasing temperature are detected using flow small-angle neutron scattering techniques. Coexistence of Lα and MLV phases at 40 °C under shear flow is detected by using flow NMR spectroscopy. The unusual rheological behavior observed by studying the lamellar phase of a non-ionic surfactant is explained using (2) H NMR and diffusion flow NMR spectroscopy with the coexistence of planar lamellar-multilamellar vesicles. Moreover, a dynamic phase diagram over a wide range of temperatures is proposed. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Reconfigurable photonic crystals enabled by pressure-responsive shape-memory polymers

PubMed Central

Fang, Yin; Ni, Yongliang; Leo, Sin-Yen; Taylor, Curtis; Basile, Vito; Jiang, Peng

2015-01-01

Smart shape-memory polymers can memorize and recover their permanent shape in response to an external stimulus (for example, heat). They have been extensively exploited for a wide spectrum of applications ranging from biomedical devices to aerospace morphing structures. However, most of the existing shape-memory polymers are thermoresponsive and their performance is hindered by heat-demanding programming and recovery steps. Although pressure is an easily adjustable process variable such as temperature, pressure-responsive shape-memory polymers are largely unexplored. Here we report a series of shape-memory polymers that enable unusual ‘cold' programming and instantaneous shape recovery triggered by applying a contact pressure at ambient conditions. Moreover, the interdisciplinary integration of scientific principles drawn from two disparate fields—the fast-growing photonic crystal and shape-memory polymer technologies—enables fabrication of reconfigurable photonic crystals and simultaneously provides a simple and sensitive optical technique for investigating the intriguing shape-memory effects at nanoscale. PMID:26074349

An unusual type of polymorphism in a liquid crystal

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

Li, Lin; Salamonczyk, Miroslaw; Shadpour, Sasan

Polymorphism is a remarkable concept in chemistry, materials science, computer science, and biology. Whether it is the ability of a material to exist in two or more crystal structures, a single interface connecting to two different entities, or alternative phenotypes of an organism, polymorphism determines function and properties. In materials science, polymorphism can be found in an impressively wide range of materials, including crystalline materials, minerals, metals, alloys, and polymers. Here in this paper we report on polymorphism in a liquid crystal. A bent-core liquid crystal with a single chiral side chain forms two structurally and morphologically significantly different liquidmore » crystal phases solely depending on the cooling rate from the isotropic liquid state. On slow cooling, the thermodynamically more stable oblique columnar phase forms, and on rapid cooling, a not heretofore reported helical microfilament phase. Since structure determines function and properties, the structural color for these phases also differs.« less

[MALIGNANT LYMPHOMAS OF THE VULVA- DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY].

PubMed

Chokoeva, Aa; Tchernev, G

2015-01-01

Primary malignant lymphomas affecting the female reproductive system are unusual, accounting for about 30% of all lymphomas. The majority of them are represented by non-Hodgkin lymphomas (over 90%), as their location most commonly involved the ovarian (49%), followed by the uterus (29%), fallopian tubes (11%), vagina (7%), and only in 4% of the cases, the primary lymphomas affecting the vulva. Although rare, lymphomas of the vulva are characterized by high proliferative potential, aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis and may lead to rapid vulvar and perineal destruction. Due to the rarity of their occurrence in the vulvo-vaginal area and their non-specific clinical manifestations, lymphomas with such location are often a diagnostic challenge and require a wide range of differential diagnoses. We present the epidemiological structure, the clinical and immunohistochemical markers characteristic of the most common lymphomas with vulvar localization, in order to emphasize their role in the differential diagnosis of vulvar tumor masses.

Disorder-induced Room Temperature Ferromagnetism in Glassy Chromites

PubMed Central

Araujo, C. Moyses; Nagar, Sandeep; Ramzan, Muhammad; Shukla, R.; Jayakumar, O. D.; Tyagi, A. K.; Liu, Yi-Sheng; Chen, Jeng-Lung; Glans, Per-Anders; Chang, Chinglin; Blomqvist, Andreas; Lizárraga, Raquel; Holmström, Erik; Belova, Lyubov; Guo, Jinghua; Ahuja, Rajeev; Rao, K. V.

2014-01-01

We report an unusual robust ferromagnetic order above room temperature upon amorphization of perovskite [YCrO3] in pulsed laser deposited thin films. This is contrary to the usual expected formation of a spin glass magnetic state in the resulting disordered structure. To understand the underlying physics of this phenomenon, we combine advanced spectroscopic techniques and first-principles calculations. We find that the observed order-disorder transformation is accompanied by an insulator-metal transition arising from a wide distribution of Cr-O-Cr bond angles and the consequent metallization through free carriers. Similar results also found in YbCrO3-films suggest that the observed phenomenon is more general and should, in principle, apply to a wider range of oxide systems. The ability to tailor ferromagnetic order above room temperature in oxide materials opens up many possibilities for novel technological applications of this counter intuitive effect. PMID:24732685

Anthropic selection for the Moon's mass.

PubMed

Waltham, Dave

2004-01-01

This paper investigates whether anthropic selection explains the unusually large size of our Moon. It is shown that obliquity stability of the Earth is possible across a wide range of different starting conditions for the Earth-Moon system. However, the lunar mass and angular momentum from the actual Earth-Moon system are remarkable in that they very nearly produce an unstable obliquity. This may be because the particular properties of our Earth-Moon system simultaneously allow a stable obliquity and a slow rotation rate. A slow rotation rate may have been anthropically selected because it minimizes the equator-pole temperature difference, thus minimizing climatic fluctuations. The great merit of this idea is that it can be tested using extrasolar planet search programs planned for the near future. If correct, such anthropic selection predicts that most extrasolar planetary systems will have significantly larger perturbation frequencies than our own Solar System.

Online Learning Tools as Supplements for Basic and Clinical Science Education

PubMed Central

Ellman, Matthew S.; Schwartz, Michael L.

2016-01-01

Undergraduate medical educators are increasingly incorporating online learning tools into basic and clinical science curricula. In this paper, we explore the diversity of online learning tools and consider the range of applications for these tools in classroom and bedside learning. Particular advantages of these tools are highlighted, such as delivering foundational knowledge as part of the “flipped classroom” pedagogy and for depicting unusual physical examination findings and advanced clinical communication skills. With accelerated use of online learning, educators and administrators need to consider pedagogic and practical challenges posed by integrating online learning into individual learning activities, courses, and curricula as a whole. We discuss strategies for faculty development and the role of school-wide resources for supporting and using online learning. Finally, we consider the role of online learning in interprofessional, integrated, and competency-based applications among other contemporary trends in medical education are considered. PMID:29349323

Sensory Processing in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crane, Laura; Goddard, Lorna; Pring, Linda

2009-01-01

Unusual sensory processing has been widely reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs); however, the majority of research in this area has focused on children. The present study assessed sensory processing in adults with ASD using the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile (AASP), a 60-item self-report questionnaire assessing levels of sensory…

On Developing the Writing Skills Course for Accounting Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Firch, Tim; Campbell, Annhenrie; Lindsay, David H.; Garner, Don E.

2010-01-01

The CSU, Stanislaus, accounting program is providing a new course that meets the university-wide upper-division writing requirement and offers accounting students additional professional study. While a writing skills course is not unusual in a business program, few offer an alternative centered on the accounting body of knowledge. Undergraduate…

Unusual decline of tanoak sprouts

Treesearch

Philip M. McDonald; Detlev R. Vogler; Dennis Mayhew

1988-01-01

Comparisons between abnormal and normal sprout clumps of tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus [Hook. & Am.] Rehd.) in northern California indicated that sprouts in abnormal clumps had about five times the number of sprouts per dump, were three times as wide, and only one-fifth as tall. Stunted and chlorotic sprouts were examined for virus and disease...

[Activity of butenafine against ocular pathogenic filamentous fungi in vitro].

PubMed

Xu, Yan; Pang, Guang-ren; Zhao, Dong-qing; Gao, Chuan-wen; Zhou, Lu-tan; Sun, Sheng-tao; Wang, Bing-liang; Chen, Zu-ji

2010-01-01

To investigate antifungal activity of butenafine in comparison with that of natamycin, amphotericin B and fluconazole against ocular pathogenic filamentous fungi in vitro. It was an experimental study. Susceptibility tests were performed against 260 isolates of ocular pathogenic filamentous fungi by broth dilution antifungal susceptibility test of filamentous fungi approved by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M38-A document. The isolates included Fusarium spp. (136), Aspergillus spp. (98), Alternaria alternata (9), Curvularia lunata (3), and unusual ocular pathogens (14). Final concentration ranged from 0.008 to 16.000 mg/L for butenafine, from 0.031 to 16.000 mg/L for amphotericin B and natamycin, and from 0.5 to 256.0 mg/L for fluconazole. Following incubation at 35 degrees C for 48 h, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined according to the CLSI M38-A document. For amphotericin B and natamycin, the MIC was defined as the lowest drug concentration that prevented any discernible growth. For butenafine and fluconazole, the MIC was defined as the lowest concentration in which an approximately 75% reduction compared to the growth of the control was observed. Candida parapsilosis ATCC22019 was used as quality control strains to validated the results. Mean MIC and MIC range, the MIC at which 50% of the isolates tested were inhibited (MIC(50)) and the MIC at which 90% of the isolates tested were inhibited (MIC(90)), were provided for all the isolates tested by using descriptive statistical analysis with the statistical SPSS package (version 13.0). MIC(90) of butenafine, natamycin, amphotericin B and fluconazole were 4, 8, 2 and 512 mg/L for Fusarium spp., respectively; 0.063, 32.000, 2.000 and 256.000 mg/L for Aspergillus spp., respectively; 0.5, 8.0, 2.0 and 128.0 mg/L for Alternaria alternate, respectively; 0.125, 2.000, 0.500 and 4.000 mg/L for Curvularia lunata, respectively; and 1, 4, 1 and 256 mg/L for unusual ocular pathogens, respectively. Butenafine exhibits potent antifungal activity against a wide variety of ocular pathogenic fungi, especially for Aspergillus spp., Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, and some unusual ocular pathogens and may have a role in future studies of antifungal eye drops and treating fungal keratitis.

Geological mysteries on Ganymede

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1997-01-01

This image shows some unusual features on the surface of Jupiter's moon, Ganymede. NASA's Galileo spacecraft imaged this region as it passed Ganymede during its second orbit through the Jovian system. The region is located at 31 degrees latitude, 186 degrees longitude in the north of Marius Regio, a region of ancient dark terrain, and is near the border of a large swathe of younger, heavily tectonised bright terrain known as Nippur Sulcus. Situated in the transitional region between these two terrain types, the area shown here contains many complex tectonic structures, and small fractures can be seen crisscrossing the image. North is to the top-left of the picture, and the sun illuminates the surface from the southeast. This image is centered on an unusual semicircular structure about 33 kilometers (20 miles) across. A 38 kilometer (24 miles) long, remarkably linear feature cuts across its northern extent, and a wide east-west fault system marks its southern boundary. The origin of these features is the subject of much debate among scientists analyzing the data. Was the arcuate structure part of a larger feature? Is the straight lineament the result of internal or external processes? Scientists continue to study this data in order to understand the surface processes occurring on this complex satellite.

The image covers an area approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) by 52 kilometers (32 miles) across. The resolution is 189 meters (630 feet) per picture element. The images were taken on September 6, 1996 at a range of 9,971 kilometers (6,232 miles) by the solid state imaging (CCD) system on NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA manages the Galileo mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, DC. JPL is an operating division of California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

This image and other images and data received from Galileo are posted on the World Wide Web, on the Galileo mission home page at URL http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov.

Sphaeromyxids form part of a diverse group of myxosporeans infecting the hepatic biliary systems of a wide range of host organisms.

PubMed

Kristmundsson, Arni; Freeman, Mark A

2013-03-01

Approximately 40 species of Sphaeromyxa have been described, all of which are coelozoic parasites from gall bladders of marine fish. They are unique amongst the myxosporeans as they have polar filaments that are flat and folded instead of being tubular and spirally wound. This unusual feature was used as a subordinal character to erect the suborder Sphaeromyxina, which contains one family, the Sphaeromyxidae, and a single genus Sphaeromyxa. In the present study, we examine eelpout from the genus Lycodes from Iceland for the presence of myxosporean parasites in the gall bladder and perform morphological and DNA studies. A novel myxosporean, Sphaeromyxa lycodi n. sp., was identified in the gall bladders of five of the six species of Lycodes examined, with a prevalence ranging from 29 - 100%. The coelozoic plasmodia are large, polysporous and contain disporic pansporoblasts and mature spores which are arcuate. The pyriform polar capsules encase long and irregularly folded ribbon-like polar filaments. Each spore valve has two distinct ends and an almost 180° twist along the relatively indistinct suture line. The single sporoplasm is granular with two nuclei. Sphaeromyxa lycodi is phylogenetically related to other arcuate sphaeromyxids and is reproducibly placed with all known sphaeromyxids and forms part of a robustly supported clade of numerous myxosporean genera which infect the hepatic biliary systems of a wide range of hosts. Sphaeromyxa lycodi is a common gall bladder myxosporean in eelpout of the genus Lycodes from Northern Iceland. It has characteristics typical of the genus and develops arcuate spores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirm that sphaeromyxids form a monophyletic group, subdivided into straight and arcuate spore forms, within the hepatic biliary clade that infect a wide range of freshwater associated animals. The ancestral spore form for the hepatic biliary clade was probably a Chloromyxum morphotype; however, sphaeromyxids have more recently evolved from an ancestor with a spindle-shaped Myxidium spore form. We recommend that the suborder Sphaeromyxina is suppressed; however, we retain the family Sphaeromyxidae and place it in the suborder Variisporina.

Sphaeromyxids form part of a diverse group of myxosporeans infecting the hepatic biliary systems of a wide range of host organisms

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Approximately 40 species of Sphaeromyxa have been described, all of which are coelozoic parasites from gall bladders of marine fish. They are unique amongst the myxosporeans as they have polar filaments that are flat and folded instead of being tubular and spirally wound. This unusual feature was used as a subordinal character to erect the suborder Sphaeromyxina, which contains one family, the Sphaeromyxidae, and a single genus Sphaeromyxa. Methods In the present study, we examine eelpout from the genus Lycodes from Iceland for the presence of myxosporean parasites in the gall bladder and perform morphological and DNA studies. Results A novel myxosporean, Sphaeromyxa lycodi n. sp., was identified in the gall bladders of five of the six species of Lycodes examined, with a prevalence ranging from 29 - 100%. The coelozoic plasmodia are large, polysporous and contain disporic pansporoblasts and mature spores which are arcuate. The pyriform polar capsules encase long and irregularly folded ribbon-like polar filaments. Each spore valve has two distinct ends and an almost 180° twist along the relatively indistinct suture line. The single sporoplasm is granular with two nuclei. Sphaeromyxa lycodi is phylogenetically related to other arcuate sphaeromyxids and is reproducibly placed with all known sphaeromyxids and forms part of a robustly supported clade of numerous myxosporean genera which infect the hepatic biliary systems of a wide range of hosts. Conclusions Sphaeromyxa lycodi is a common gall bladder myxosporean in eelpout of the genus Lycodes from Northern Iceland. It has characteristics typical of the genus and develops arcuate spores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirm that sphaeromyxids form a monophyletic group, subdivided into straight and arcuate spore forms, within the hepatic biliary clade that infect a wide range of freshwater associated animals. The ancestral spore form for the hepatic biliary clade was probably a Chloromyxum morphotype; however, sphaeromyxids have more recently evolved from an ancestor with a spindle-shaped Myxidium spore form. We recommend that the suborder Sphaeromyxina is suppressed; however, we retain the family Sphaeromyxidae and place it in the suborder Variisporina. PMID:23452895

Silk as a biocohesive sacrificial binder in the fabrication of hydroxyapatite load bearing scaffolds.

PubMed

McNamara, Stephanie L; Rnjak-Kovacina, Jelena; Schmidt, Daniel F; Lo, Tim J; Kaplan, David L

2014-08-01

Limitations of current clinical methods for bone repair continue to fuel the demand for a high strength, bioactive bone replacement material. Recent attempts to produce porous scaffolds for bone regeneration have been limited by the intrinsic weakness associated with high porosity materials. In this study, ceramic scaffold fabrication techniques for potential use in load-bearing bone repairs have been developed using naturally derived silk from Bombyx mori. Silk was first employed for ceramic grain consolidation during green body formation, and later as a sacrificial polymer to impart porosity during sintering. These techniques allowed preparation of hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds that exhibited a wide range of mechanical and porosity profiles, with some displaying unusually high compressive strength up to 152.4 ± 9.1 MPa. Results showed that the scaffolds exhibited a wide range of compressive strengths and moduli (8.7 ± 2.7 MPa to 152.4 ± 9.1 MPa and 0.3 ± 0.1 GPa to 8.6 ± 0.3 GPa) with total porosities of up to 62.9 ± 2.7% depending on the parameters used for fabrication. Moreover, HA-silk scaffolds could be molded into large, complex shapes, and further machined post-sinter to generate specific three-dimensional geometries. Scaffolds supported bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell attachment and proliferation, with no signs of cytotoxicity. Therefore, silk-fabricated HA scaffolds show promise for load bearing bone repair and regeneration needs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Silk as a biocohesive sacrificial binder in the fabrication of hydroxyapatite load bearing scaffolds

PubMed Central

McNamara, Stephanie L.; Rnjak-Kovacina, Jelena; Schmidt, Daniel; Lo, Tim J.; Kaplan, David L.

2014-01-01

Limitations of current clinical methods for bone repair continue to fuel the demand for a high strength, bioactive bone replacement material. Recent attempts to produce porous scaffolds for bone regeneration have been limited by the intrinsic weakness associated with high porosity materials. In this study, ceramic scaffold fabrication techniques for potential use in load-bearing bone repairs have been developed using naturally derived silk from Bombyx mori. Silk was first employed for ceramic grain consolidation during green body formation, and later as a sacrificial polymer to impart porosity during sintering. These techniques allowed preparation of hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds that exhibited a wide range of mechanical and porosity profiles, with some displaying unusually high compressive strength up to 152.4 ± 9.1 MPa. Results showed that the scaffolds exhibited a wide range of compressive strengths and moduli (8.7 ± 2.7 MPa to 152.4 ± 9.1 MPa and 0.3 ± 0.1 GPa to 8.6 ± 0.3 GPa) with total porosities of up to 62.9 ± 2.7% depending on the parameters used for fabrication. Moreover, HA-silk scaffolds could be molded into large, complex shapes, and further machined post-sinter to generate specific three-dimensional geometries. Scaffolds supported bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell attachment and proliferation, with no signs of cytotoxicity. Therefore, silk-fabricated HA scaffolds show promise for load bearing bone repair and regeneration needs. PMID:24881027

Pluto Close-up, Now in Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-12-10

This enhanced color mosaic combines some of the sharpest views of Pluto that NASA's New Horizons spacecraft obtained during its July 14 flyby. The pictures are part of a sequence taken near New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto, with resolutions of about 250-280 feet (77-85 meters) per pixel -- revealing features smaller than half a city block on Pluto's surface. Lower resolution color data (at about 2,066 feet, or 630 meters, per pixel) were added to create this new image. The images form a strip 50 miles (80 kilometers) wide, trending (top to bottom) from the edge of "badlands" northwest of the informally named Sputnik Planum, across the al-Idrisi mountains, onto the shoreline of Pluto's "heart" feature, and just into its icy plains. They combine pictures from the telescopic Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) taken approximately 15 minutes before New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto, with -- from a range of only 10,000 miles (17,000 kilometers) -- with color data (in near-infrared, red and blue) gathered by the Ralph/Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC) 25 minutes before the LORRI pictures. The wide variety of cratered, mountainous and glacial terrains seen here gives scientists and the public alike a breathtaking, super-high-resolution color window into Pluto's geology. e border between the relatively smooth Sputnik Planum ice sheet and the pitted area, with a series of hills forming slightly inside this unusual "shoreline." http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20213

SU-F-T-85: Energy Modulated Electron Postmastectomy Unreconstructed (PU) Chest Wall (CW) Irradiation Technique to Achieve Heart Sparing

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

Hong, L; Ballangrud, A; Mechalakos, J

Purpose: For left-sided PU patients requiring CW and nodal irradiation, sometimes partial wide tangents (PWT) are not feasible due to abnormal chest wall contour or heart position close to the anterior chest wall or unusual wide excision scar. We developed an energy modulated electron chest wall irradiation technique that will achieve heart sparing. Methods: Ten left-sided PU patients were selected for this dosimetry study. If PWT were used, the amount of the ipsilateral lung would be ranged 3.4 to 4.4 cm, and the amount of heart would be ranged 1.3 to 3.8 cm. We used electron paired fields that matchedmore » on the skin to achieve dose conformity to the chest wall. The enface electron fields were designed at extended SSD from a single isocenter and gantry angle with different energy beams using different cutout. Lower energy was used in the central chest wall part and higher energy was used in the periphery of the chest wall. Bolus was used for the electron fields to ensure adequate skin dose coverage. The electron fields were matched to the photon supra-clavicle field in the superior region. Daily field junctions were used to feather the match lines between all the fields. Target volumes and normal tissues were drawn according to institutional protocols. Prescription dose was 2Gy per fraction for a total 50Gy. Dose calculations were done with Eclipse EMC-11031 for Electron and AAA-11031 for photons. Results: Six patients were planned using 6/9MeV, three using 9/12MeV and one 6/12MeV. Target volumes achieved adequate coverage. For heart, V30Gy, V20Gy and Mean Dose were 0.6%±0.6%, 2.7%±1.7%, and 3.0Gy±0.8Gy respectively. For ipsilateral lung, V50Gy, V20Gy, V10Gy and V5Gy were 0.9%±1.1%, 34.3%±5.1%, 51.6%±6.3% and 64.1%±7.5% respectively. Conclusion: For left-sided PU patients with unusual anatomy, energy modulated electron CW irradiation technique can achieve heart sparing with acceptable lung dose.« less

Doryphoribius chetumalensis sp. nov. (Eutardigrada: Isohypsibiidae) a new tardigrade species discovered in an unusual habitat of urban areas of Mexico.

PubMed

Pérez-Pech, Wilbert Andrés; Anguas-Escalante, Abril; Cutz-Pool, Leopoldo Querubin; Guidetti, Roberto

2017-11-07

A new species, Doryphoribius chetumalensis, is described from specimens collected in the city of Chetumal (Quintana Roo state, Mexico). The species was found in a new and unusual habitat for urban tardigrades, i.e. the soil sediment accumulated on the border of streets. This discovery shows that tardigrades can live in this habitat, demonstrating once again the wide capacity of this taxon to tolerate adverse habitats, and to survive in environments with high anthropogenic impact. Doryphoribius chetumalensis sp. nov. differs from all the other species of the genus in having enlarged and wide bulbous base of the claws. Within Doryphoribius, it belongs to the zappalai group, and differs from the species in this group, not only in the claw shape, but also by the orange body colour, the smooth cuticle, the absence of a tooth in the wall of the buccal ring, and the absence of lunules under the claws. This is the first record of tardigrades, identified to species level, in Quintana Roo state. A taxonomic key of the Doryphoribius genus is also presented.

Application of MCD spectroscopy and TD-DFT to a highly non-planar porphyrinoid ring system. New insights on red-shifted porphyrinoid spectral bands.

PubMed

Mack, John; Asano, Yoshiaki; Kobayashi, Nagao; Stillman, Martin J

2005-12-21

The first magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra are reported for tetraphenyltetraacenaphthoporphyrin (TPTANP). The impact on the electronic structure of steric interactions between the fused acenaphthalene rings and the meso-tetraphenyl substituents is explored based on an analysis of the optical spectra of the Zn(II) complex (ZnTPTANP) and the free base dication species ([H4TPTANP]2+). In the case of ZnTPTANP, significant folding of the porphyrinoid ligand induces a highly unusual MCD-sign reversal providing the first direct spectroscopic evidence of ligand nonplanarity. Density functional theory (DFT) geometry optimizations for a wide range of Zn(II) porphyrinoids based on the B3LYP functional and TD-DFT calculations of the associated UV-visible absorption spectra are reported, allowing a complete assessment of the MCD data. TPTANP complexes are found to fall into a class of cyclic polyenes, termed as soft MCD chromophores by Michl (J. Pure Appl. Chem. 1980, 52, 1549.), since the signs of the Faraday A1 terms observed in the MCD spectrum are highly sensitive to slight structural changes. The origin of an unusually large red shift of the main B (or Soret) band of MTPTANP (the most red shifted ever reported for fused-ring-expanded metal porphines) and of similar red shifts observed in the spectra of other peripherally crowded porphyrinoid complexes is also explored and explained on this basis.

Photonic metamaterials: a new class of materials for manipulating light waves

PubMed Central

Iwanaga, Masanobu

2012-01-01

A decade of research on metamaterials (MMs) has yielded great progress in artificial electromagnetic materials in a wide frequency range from microwave to optical frequencies. This review outlines the achievements in photonic MMs that can efficiently manipulate light waves from near-ultraviolet to near-infrared in subwavelength dimensions. One of the key concepts of MMs is effective refractive index, realizing values that have not been obtained in ordinary solid materials. In addition to the high and low refractive indices, negative refractive indices have been reported in some photonic MMs. In anisotropic photonic MMs of high-contrast refractive indices, the polarization and phase of plane light waves were efficiently transformed in a well-designed manner, enabling remarkable miniaturization of linear optical devices such as polarizers, wave plates and circular dichroic devices. Another feature of photonic MMs is the possibility of unusual light propagation, paving the way for a new subfield of transfer optics. MM lenses having super-resolution and cloaking effects were introduced by exploiting novel light-propagating modes. Here, we present a new approach to describing photonic MMs definitely by resolving the electromagnetic eigenmodes. Two representative photonic MMs are addressed: the so-called fishnet MM slabs, which are known to have effective negative refractive index, and a three-dimensional MM based on a multilayer of a metal and an insulator. In these photonic MMs, we elucidate the underlying eigenmodes that induce unusual light propagations. Based on the progress of photonic MMs, the future potential and direction are discussed. PMID:27877512

Expanding the genetic heterogeneity of intellectual disability.

PubMed

Anazi, Shams; Maddirevula, Sateesh; Salpietro, Vincenzo; Asi, Yasmine T; Alsahli, Saud; Alhashem, Amal; Shamseldin, Hanan E; AlZahrani, Fatema; Patel, Nisha; Ibrahim, Niema; Abdulwahab, Firdous M; Hashem, Mais; Alhashmi, Nadia; Al Murshedi, Fathiya; Al Kindy, Adila; Alshaer, Ahmad; Rumayyan, Ahmed; Al Tala, Saeed; Kurdi, Wesam; Alsaman, Abdulaziz; Alasmari, Ali; Banu, Selina; Sultan, Tipu; Saleh, Mohammed M; Alkuraya, Hisham; Salih, Mustafa A; Aldhalaan, Hesham; Ben-Omran, Tawfeg; Al Musafri, Fatima; Ali, Rehab; Suleiman, Jehan; Tabarki, Brahim; El-Hattab, Ayman W; Bupp, Caleb; Alfadhel, Majid; Al Tassan, Nada; Monies, Dorota; Arold, Stefan T; Abouelhoda, Mohamed; Lashley, Tammaryn; Houlden, Henry; Faqeih, Eissa; Alkuraya, Fowzan S

2017-11-01

Intellectual disability (ID) is a common morbid condition with a wide range of etiologies. The list of monogenic forms of ID has increased rapidly in recent years thanks to the implementation of genomic sequencing techniques. In this study, we describe the phenotypic and genetic findings of 68 families (105 patients) all with novel ID-related variants. In addition to established ID genes, including ones for which we describe unusual mutational mechanism, some of these variants represent the first confirmatory disease-gene links following previous reports (TRAK1, GTF3C3, SPTBN4 and NKX6-2), some of which were based on single families. Furthermore, we describe novel variants in 14 genes that we propose as novel candidates (ANKHD1, ASTN2, ATP13A1, FMO4, MADD, MFSD11, NCKAP1, NFASC, PCDHGA10, PPP1R21, SLC12A2, SLK, STK32C and ZFAT). We highlight MADD and PCDHGA10 as particularly compelling candidates in which we identified biallelic likely deleterious variants in two independent ID families each. We also highlight NCKAP1 as another compelling candidate in a large family with autosomal dominant mild intellectual disability that fully segregates with a heterozygous truncating variant. The candidacy of NCKAP1 is further supported by its biological function, and our demonstration of relevant expression in human brain. Our study expands the locus and allelic heterogeneity of ID and demonstrates the power of positional mapping to reveal unusual mutational mechanisms.

Al Kushaymiyah as a target for a Colorado-type molybdenite deposit

USGS Publications Warehouse

Theobald, P.K.

1971-01-01

The granitic complex in the vicinity of Al Kushaymiyah was singled out by Whitlow (19,69, 1969a, 1971), as one of the most promising areas for exploration in the Southern Wajd quadrangle (Jackson and others, 1962). He noted in particular the intensity of shattering and silicification of these potassium-rich granites, and the presence of unusual concentrations of tungsten , molybdenum, and tin in samples from the area. In the light of shield-wide compilations, this area again stands out as the principal geochemical anomaly for the three metals. The similarity of these unusual geologic and geochemical features to those of Colorado-type molybdenite deposits is striking and suggests that the Al Kushaymiyah provides a favorableenvironment to explore for a stockwork molybdenum deposit.

Investigation of Optical and Electrical Properties of Wide Band Gap Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-06-01

porous and heterogeneous. 22 IF 3. CRYSTAL GROWTH OF HgS A. Background fI’ Mercury sulfide is a wide bandgap semiconductor which is of considerable...I24 I 23 Mercury sulfide exists in two modifications, cinnabar (a-HgS) and metacinnabar (0-HgS). The a phase crystallizes in an unusual, dihedrally...5.817 ) at 26 °C, with Eg = -0.15 eV. An early technique, reported by Hamilton 31, on the synthesis of single crystals of the sulphides of Zn, Cd

Unusual Turner syndrome mosaic with a triple x cell line (47,X/49,XXX) in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).

PubMed

Bradford, Carol M; Tupa, Lynn; Wiese, Debbie; Hurley, Timothy J; Zimmerman, Ralph

2013-12-01

A 29-yr-old female western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) was evaluated for low fertility and a midterm abortion. Laboratory testing included karyotyping, which revealed an unusual mosaicism for Turner syndrome with Triple X (47,X/49,XXX). This appears to be the first report of Turner syndrome in a great ape. In humans, Turner syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 3,000 females, with half of those monosomic for the X chromosome. A small proportion is mosaic for a triple X cell line (3-4%). In humans, Turner syndrome is associated with characteristic phenotype including short stature, obesity, a broad chest with widely spaced nipples, webbing of the neck, and anteverted ears. This individual gorilla is significantly shorter in stature than conspecifics and is obese despite normal caloric intake. Individuals with Turner syndrome should also be screened for common health issues, including congenital heart defects, obesity, kidney abnormalities, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus. Animals with decreased fertility, multiple miscarriages, fetal losses, unusual phenotypes, or a combination of these symptoms should be evaluated for genetic abnormalities.

Environmental Impact Analysis Process, Groom Mountain Range, Lincoln County, Nevada

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-10-01

bases clustered around springs, temporary camps, rock shelters , quarries, lithic scatters, rock art, pinyon caches, pot drops, isolates, and historic...include pinyon caches and rock shelters with associated historic artifacts and many of the spring sites. These sites provide an unusual research...Management. (b) Proposed Action: Renewed Withdrawal of Groom Mountain Range Addition to Nellis Air Force Bombing and Gunnery Range, Lincoln County, Nevada. (c

Host tree resistance against the polyphagous

Treesearch

W. D. Morewood; K. Hoover; P. R. Neiner; J.R. McNeil; J. C. Sellmer

2004-01-01

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiini) is an invasive wood-boring beetle with an unusually broad host range and a proven ability to increase its host range as it colonizes new areas and encounters new tree species. The beetle is native to eastern Asia and has become an invasive pest in North America and Europe,...

The Economic Impact of Dickinson College on Carlisle and Cumberland County, 2010

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bellinger, William; Bybel, Alexandra; de Cabrol, Charles; Frankel, Zachary; Kosta, Elizabeth; Laffey, Thomas; Letko, Lauren; Pehlman, Robert; Peterson, Eric; Roderick, Benjamin; Rose, Leo; Schachter, Andrew; Wang, Jue; Wood, Matthew

2010-01-01

This study of Dickinson College represents an unusually complete, detailed, and balanced study of the local and regional economic impact of an academic institution. Among other features, it includes estimates of the college's positive and negative effects on local government, local as well as county wide economic impact estimates, and a relatively…

Establishment, dispersal, and competitive impacts of a third fire ant decapitating fly (Pseudacteon obtusus) in North Central Florida

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Self-sustaining classical biological control agents offer a hope for permanent wide-area control of imported Solenopsis fire ants in the United States because escape from abundant natural enemies left behind in Argentina is a likely reason for unusually high fire ant densities in the United States. ...

Paleontology. A Curriculum and Activity Guide to Mammoth Cave National Park. [Grades] 1-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Park Service (Dept. of Interior), Washington, DC.

Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) was designated as a national park in 1941 because of its beautiful hills and valleys, scenic rivers, and the vast cave system located within its boundaries. Outstanding physiographic features include karst terrains, sandstone capped plateaus, and bluffs overlooking rivers and streams, which provide an unusually wide variety…

EIT in resonator chains: similarities and differences with atomic media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matsko, A. B.; Maleki, L.; Savchenkov, A. A.; Ilchenko, V. S.

2004-01-01

We theoretically study a parallel configuration of two interacting whispering gallery mode optical resonators and show a narrow-band modal structure as a basis for a widely tunable delay line. For the optimum coupling configuration the system can possess an unusually narrow spectral feature with a much narrower bandwidth than the loaded bandwidth of each individual resonator.

Writing for Publication as a Tool in Teacher Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rathert, Stefan; Okan, Zühal

2015-01-01

Writing is widely accepted as a tool in the personal and professional development of teachers. Among other forms of teacher writing, writing for publication is rather unusual as it requires courage to share ideas and unfavourable working conditions prevent teachers from finding time and space to write for publication in the first place. In this…

Graphene Quantum Dot-Aerogel: From Nanoscopic to Macroscopic Fluorescent Materials. Sensing Polyaromatic Compounds in Water.

PubMed

Martín-Pacheco, Ana; Del Río Castillo, Antonio Esaú; Martín, Cristina; Herrero, María Antonia; Merino, Sonia; García Fierro, José Luis; Díez-Barra, Enrique; Vázquez, Ester

2018-05-30

Fluorescence based on quantum confinement is a property restricted to the nanoscopic range. The incorporation of nanoparticles in a three-dimensional polymeric network could afford macroscopic scaffolds that show nanoscopic properties. Moreover, if these scaffolds are based on strong bonds, the stability of the resulting materials can be preserved, thus enhancing their final applications. We report for the first time the preparation of a graphene quantum dot (GQD) composite based on a cationic covalent network. This new material has unusual features: (i) the final composite remains stable after several swelling-deswelling cycles, thus demonstrating strong interactions between GQDs and the polymeric material, and therefore it could be used as a portable system. (ii) Fluorescence emission in the composite and in solution is quasi-independent to the excitation wavelength. (iii) However, and in contrast to the behavior observed in GQD solutions, the fluorescence of the composite remains unaltered over a wide pH range and in the presence of different ions commonly found in tap water. (iv) Fluorescence quenching is only observed as a consequence of molecules that bear aromatic systems, and this could be applied to the preparation of in situ water sensors.

Giant positive magnetoresistance in half-metallic double-perovskite Sr2CrWO6 thin films

PubMed Central

Zhang, Ji; Ji, Wei-Jing; Xu, Jie; Geng, Xiao-Yu; Zhou, Jian; Gu, Zheng-Bin; Yao, Shu-Hua; Zhang, Shan-Tao

2017-01-01

Magnetoresistance (MR) is the magnetic field–induced change of electrical resistance. The MR effect not only has wide applications in hard drivers and sensors but also is a long-standing scientific issue for complex interactions. Ferromagnetic/ferrimagnetic oxides generally show negative MR due to the magnetic field–induced spin order. We report the unusually giant positive MR up to 17,200% (at 2 K and 7 T) in 12-nm Sr2CrWO6 thin films, which show metallic behavior with high carrier density of up to 2.26 × 1028 m−3 and high mobility of 5.66 × 104 cm2 V−1 s−1. The possible mechanism is that the external magnetic field suppresses the long-range antiferromagnetic order to form short-range antiferromagnetic fluctuations, which enhance electronic scattering and lead to the giant positive MR. The high mobility may also have contributions to the positive MR. These results not only experimentally confirm that the giant positive MR can be realized in oxides but also open up new opportunities for developing and understanding the giant positive MR in oxides. PMID:29119138

Natural Proline-Rich Cyclopolypeptides from Marine Organisms: Chemistry, Synthetic Methodologies and Biological Status.

PubMed

Fang, Wan-Yin; Dahiya, Rajiv; Qin, Hua-Li; Mourya, Rita; Maharaj, Sandeep

2016-10-26

Peptides have gained increased interest as therapeutics during recent years. More than 60 peptide drugs have reached the market for the benefit of patients and several hundreds of novel therapeutic peptides are in preclinical and clinical development. The key contributor to this success is the potent and specific, yet safe, mode of action of peptides. Among the wide range of biologically-active peptides, naturally-occurring marine-derived cyclopolypeptides exhibit a broad range of unusual and potent pharmacological activities. Because of their size and complexity, proline-rich cyclic peptides (PRCPs) occupy a crucial chemical space in drug discovery that may provide useful scaffolds for modulating more challenging biological targets, such as protein-protein interactions and allosteric binding sites. Diverse pharmacological activities of natural cyclic peptides from marine sponges, tunicates and cyanobacteria have encouraged efforts to develop cyclic peptides with well-known synthetic methods, including solid-phase and solution-phase techniques of peptide synthesis. The present review highlights the natural resources, unique structural features and the most relevant biological properties of proline-rich peptides of marine-origin, focusing on the potential therapeutic role that the PRCPs may play as a promising source of new peptide-based novel drugs.

Natural Proline-Rich Cyclopolypeptides from Marine Organisms: Chemistry, Synthetic Methodologies and Biological Status

PubMed Central

Fang, Wan-Yin; Dahiya, Rajiv; Qin, Hua-Li; Mourya, Rita; Maharaj, Sandeep

2016-01-01

Peptides have gained increased interest as therapeutics during recent years. More than 60 peptide drugs have reached the market for the benefit of patients and several hundreds of novel therapeutic peptides are in preclinical and clinical development. The key contributor to this success is the potent and specific, yet safe, mode of action of peptides. Among the wide range of biologically-active peptides, naturally-occurring marine-derived cyclopolypeptides exhibit a broad range of unusual and potent pharmacological activities. Because of their size and complexity, proline-rich cyclic peptides (PRCPs) occupy a crucial chemical space in drug discovery that may provide useful scaffolds for modulating more challenging biological targets, such as protein-protein interactions and allosteric binding sites. Diverse pharmacological activities of natural cyclic peptides from marine sponges, tunicates and cyanobacteria have encouraged efforts to develop cyclic peptides with well-known synthetic methods, including solid-phase and solution-phase techniques of peptide synthesis. The present review highlights the natural resources, unique structural features and the most relevant biological properties of proline-rich peptides of marine-origin, focusing on the potential therapeutic role that the PRCPs may play as a promising source of new peptide-based novel drugs. PMID:27792168

Anomalous High-Energy Waterfall-Like Electronic Structure in 5 d Transition Metal Oxide Sr2IrO4 with a Strong Spin-Orbit Coupling

PubMed Central

Liu, Yan; Yu, Li; Jia, Xiaowen; Zhao, Jianzhou; Weng, Hongming; Peng, Yingying; Chen, Chaoyu; Xie, Zhuojin; Mou, Daixiang; He, Junfeng; Liu, Xu; Feng, Ya; Yi, Hemian; Zhao, Lin; Liu, Guodong; He, Shaolong; Dong, Xiaoli; Zhang, Jun; Xu, Zuyan; Chen, Chuangtian; Cao, Gang; Dai, Xi; Fang, Zhong; Zhou, X. J.

2015-01-01

The low energy electronic structure of Sr2IrO4 has been well studied and understood in terms of an effective Jeff = 1/2 Mott insulator model. However, little work has been done in studying its high energy electronic behaviors. Here we report a new observation of the anomalous high energy electronic structure in Sr2IrO4. By taking high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission measurements on Sr2IrO4 over a wide energy range, we have revealed for the first time that the high energy electronic structures show unusual nearly-vertical bands that extend over a large energy range. Such anomalous high energy behaviors resemble the high energy waterfall features observed in the cuprate superconductors. While strong electron correlation plays an important role in producing high energy waterfall features in the cuprate superconductors, the revelation of the high energy anomalies in Sr2IrO4, which exhibits strong spin-orbit coupling and a moderate electron correlation, points to an unknown and novel route in generating exotic electronic excitations. PMID:26267653

Models of magnetic field generation in partly stable planetary cores: Applications to Mercury and Saturn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christensen, Ulrich R.; Wicht, Johannes

2008-07-01

A substantial part of Mercury's iron core may be stably stratified because the temperature gradient is subadiabatic. A dynamo would operate only in a deep sublayer. We show that such a situation arises for a wide range of values for the heat flow and the sulfur content in the core. In Saturn the upper part of the metallic hydrogen core could be stably stratified because of helium depletion. The magnetic field is unusually weak in the case of Mercury and unusually axisymmetric at Saturn. We study numerical dynamo models in rotating spherical shells with a stable outer region. The control parameters are chosen such that the magnetic Reynolds number is in the range of expected Mercury values. Because of its slow rotation, Mercury may be in a regime where the dipole contribution to the internal magnetic field is weak. Most of our models are in this regime, where the dynamo field consists mainly of rapidly varying higher multipole components. They can hardly pass the stable conducting layer because of the skin effect. The weak low-degree components vary more slowly and control the structure of the field outside the core, whose strength matches the observed field strength at Mercury. In some models the axial dipole dominates at the planet's surface and in others the axial quadrupole is dominant. Differential rotation in the stable layer, representing a thermal wind, is important for attenuating non-axisymmetric components in the exterior field. In some models that we relate to Saturn the axial dipole is intrinsically strong inside the dynamo. The surface field strength is much larger than in the other cases, but the stable layer eliminates non-axisymmetric modes. The Messenger and Bepi Colombo space missions can test our predictions that Mercury's field is large-scaled, fairly axisymmetric, and shows no secular variations on the decadal time scale.

Probing of barrier induced deviations in current-voltage characteristics of polymer devices by impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Motiur Rahman; Rao, K. S. R. Koteswara; Menon, R.

2017-05-01

Temperature dependent current-voltage measurements have been performed on poly(3-methylthiophene) based devices in metal/polymer/metal geometry in temperature range 90-300 K. Space charge limited current (SCLC) controlled by exponentially distributed traps is observed at all the measured temperatures at intermediate voltage range. At higher voltages, trap-free SCLC is observed at 90 K only while slope less than 2 is observed at higher temperatures which is quiet unusual in polymer devices. Impedance measurements were performed at different bias voltages. The unusual behavior observed in current-voltage characteristics is explained by Cole-Cole plot which gives the signature of interface dipole on electrode/polymer interface. Two relaxation mechanisms are obtained from the real part of impedance vs frequency spectra which confirms the interface related phenomena in the device

Unusual Configurations of Personality Traits Indicate Multiple Patterns of Their Coalescence

PubMed Central

Allik, Jüri; Hřebíčková, Martina; Realo, Anu

2018-01-01

It is widely accepted that the Five Factor Model (FFM) is a satisfactory description of the pattern of covariations among personality traits, which supposedly fits, more or less adequately, every individual. As an amendment to the FFM, we propose that the customary five-factor structure is only a near-universal, because it does not fit all individuals but only a large majority of them. Evidences reveal a small minority of participants who have an unusual configuration of personality traits, which is clearly recognizable, both in self- and observer-ratings. We identified three types of atypical configurations of personality traits, characterized mainly by a scatter of subscale scores within each of the FFM factors. How different configurations of personality traits are formed, persist, and function needs further investigation. PMID:29515499

Magnetic properties of Sn-substituted Ni-Zn ferrites synthesized from nano-sized powders of NiO, ZnO, Fe2O3, and SnO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, MA; Uddin, MM; Khan, MNI; Chowdhury, FUZ; Hoque, SM; Liba, SI

2017-06-01

A series of Ni0.6-x/2Zn0.4-x/2Sn x Fe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.3) (NZSFO) ferrite composities have been synthesized from nano powders using a standard solid state reaction technique. The spinel cubic structure of the investigated samples has been confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD). The magnetic properties such as saturation magnetization ({M}{{s}}), remanent magnetization ({M}{{r}}), coercive field ({H}{{c}}), and Bohr magneton (μ) are calculated from the hysteresis loops. The value of {M}{{s}} is found to decrease with increasing Sn content in the samples. This change is successfully explained by the variation of A-B interaction strength due to Sn substitution in different sites. The compositional stability and quality of the prepared ferrite composites have also been endorsed by the fairly constant initial permeability ({μ }^{\\prime }) over a wide range of frequency. The decreasing trend of {μ }^{\\prime } with increasing Sn content has been observed. Curie temperature {T}{{C}} has been found to increase with the increase in Sn content. A wide spread frequency utility zone indicates that the NZSFO can be considered as a good candidate for use in broadband pulse transformers and wide band read-write heads for video recording. The composition of x = 0.05 shows unusual results and the possible reason is also mentioned with the established formalism.

IS THE LARGE CRATER ON THE ASTEROID (2867) STEINS REALLY AN IMPACT CRATER?

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

Morris, A. J. W.; Price, M. C.; Burchell, M. J., E-mail: m.j.burchell@kent.ac.uk

The large crater on the asteroid (2867) Steins attracted much attention when it was first observed by the Rosetta spacecraft in 2008. Initially, it was widely thought to be unusually large compared to the size of the asteroid. It was quickly realized that this was not the case and there are other examples of similar (or larger) craters on small bodies in the same size range; however, it is still widely accepted that it is a crater arising from an impact onto the body which occurred after its formation. The asteroid (2867) Steins also has an equatorial bulge, usually consideredmore » to have arisen from redistribution of mass due to spin-up of the body caused by the YORP effect. Conversely, it is shown here that, based on catastrophic disruption experiments in laboratory impact studies, a similarly shaped body to the asteroid Steins can arise from the break-up of a parent in a catastrophic disruption event; this includes the presence of a large crater-like feature and equatorial bulge. This suggests that the large crater-like feature on Steins may not be a crater from a subsequent impact, but may have arisen directly from the fragmentation process of a larger, catastrophically disrupted parent.« less

Unravelling the magmatic processes behind zoned fall units on Ascension Island, South Atlantic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chamberlain, K. J.; Barclay, J.; Preece, K.; Brown, R. J.; Davidson, J.

2015-12-01

Ascension Island, an isolated composite volcano in the south Atlantic, has a wide spectrum of explosive and effusive deposits. Eruptions on the island have produced ash and pumice fall deposits, ignimbrites, scoria cones, lava flows and lava domes, which vary in composition from basalt to rhyolite. We report, for the first time, the presence of multiple, zoned pumice fall deposits. These deposits grade upwards (stepwise or gradationally) from pumice to scoria. We present detailed observations of two key deposits which typify the range in zonation observed in the unusual fall units. Forensic examination of these deposits and their petrological and geochemical characteristics provide critical information about the interactions and processes behind the wide spectrum of magma compositions and past eruptive behaviour on Ascension Island. The first deposit changes gradationally from fayalite-bearing trachytic pumice fall (61.1 wt.% SiO2) at the base, to basaltic trachy-andesite scoria fall (54.5 wt.% SiO2) at the top. The second deposit is more complex. It contains mingled pumice-scoria clasts, has a rapid transition from pumice to scoria and no intermediate clasts were observed. New analyses of H2O, CO2 and key trace elements within melt inclusions combined with systematic whole rock and phenocryst analyses enable us to probe the relationship of these co-erupted magmas to other deposits on the island. This has yielded insights into the magma plumbing system; and improved understanding of the roles that fractional crystallisation and magma mixing play in generating the range in compositions observed at this unique ocean island volcano.

Tropical dry forest trees and lianas differ in leaf economic spectrum traits but have overlapping water-use strategies.

PubMed

Werden, Leland K; Waring, Bonnie G; Smith-Martin, Christina M; Powers, Jennifer S

2018-04-01

Tree species in tropical dry forests employ a wide range of strategies to cope with seasonal drought, including regulation of hydraulic function. However, it is uncertain if co-occurring lianas also possess a diversity of strategies. For a taxonomically diverse group of 14 tree and 7 liana species, we measured morphological and hydraulic functional traits during an unusual drought and under non-drought conditions to determine (i) if trees have different water-use strategies than lianas and (ii) if relationships among these traits can be used to better understand how tree and liana species regulate diurnal leaf water potential (Ψdiurnal). In this Costa Rican tropical dry forest, lianas and trees had overlapping water-use strategies, but differed in many leaf economic spectrum traits. Specifically, we found that both lianas and trees employed a diversity of Ψdiurnal regulation strategies, which did not differ statistically. However, lianas and trees did significantly differ in terms of certain traits including leaf area, specific leaf area, petiole length, wood vessel diameter and xylem vessel density. All liana and tree species we measured fell along a continuum of isohydric (partial) to anisohydric (strict or extreme) Ψdiurnal regulation strategies, and leaf area, petiole length, stomatal conductance and wood vessel diameter correlated with these strategies. These findings contribute to a trait-based understanding of how plants regulate Ψdiurnal under both drought stress and sufficient water availability, and underscore that lianas and trees employ a similarly wide range of Ψdiurnal regulation strategies, despite having vastly different growth forms.

Antarctic Meteorite Newsletter, Volume 31, No. 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Satterwhite, Cecilia (Editor); Righter, Kevin (Editor)

2008-01-01

This newsletter reports 418 new meteorites from the 2004 and 2006 ANSMET seasons from the Cumulus Hills (CMS), LaPaz Ice Field (LAP), Graves Nunataks (GRA), Grosvenor Mountains (GRO), Larkman Nunatak (LAR), MacAlpine Hills (MAC), Miller Range (MIL), Roberts Massif (RBT), and Scott Glacier (SCO). These new samples include one iron, 1 eucrite, 1 mesosiderite, 6 CK chondrites (2 with pairing), 2 CV3 chondrites, 1 CM1, 7 CM2 (4 with pairing), 3 CR2 (2 with pairing), and one each of a type 3 L and H chondrites. The CK6 chondrites (LAR 06869, 06872, 06873) are unusual in that they have no discernable chondrules, extremely fine-grained texture, and are full of veins. This newsletter represents a break from recent newsletters in which we have announced many unusual and popular samples, including new lunar and martian meteorites, an unusual achondrite (GRA 06128 and 06129 the topic of a special session at this years LPSC).

Transmission of Enterocytozoon bieneusi between a child and guinea pigs.

PubMed

Cama, Vitaliano A; Pearson, Julie; Cabrera, Lilia; Pacheco, Luz; Gilman, Robert; Meyer, Sarah; Ortega, Ynes; Xiao, Lihua

2007-08-01

An unusual Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype was found in seven guinea pigs and a 2-year-old child in the same household. The genetic uniqueness of the parasite, its wide occurrence in other guinea pigs in the community, and its absence in other children in the community suggest the possibility of zoonotic transmission of the infection to the study child.

Exploring Three-Phase Systems and Synchronous Motors: A Low-Voltage and Low-Cost Experiment at the Sophomore Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schubert, T. F., Jr.; Jacobitz, F. G.; Kim, E. M.

2011-01-01

In order to meet changing curricular and societal needs, a three-phase system and synchronous motor laboratory experience for sophomore-level students in a wide variety of engineering majors was designed, implemented, and assessed. The experiment is unusual in its early placement in the curriculum, and in that it focuses primarily on basic…

Undergraduates Discovering Folds in ''Flat'' Strata: An Unusual Undergraduate Geology Field Methods Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abolins, Mark

2014-01-01

Undergraduates learned to measure, map, and interpret bedding plane attitudes during a semesterlong geology field methods course in a field area where strata dip less than 98. Despite the low dip of the strata, 2011 field course students discovered a half-kilometer-wide structural basin by using digital levels and Brunton pocket transits to…

Mechanical and thermal properties of planetologically important ices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Croft, Steven K.

1987-01-01

Two squences of ice composition were proposed for the icy satellites: a dense nebula model and a solar nebula model. Careful modeling of the structure, composition, and thermal history of satellites composed of these various ices requires quantitative information on the density, compressibility, thermal expansion, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity. Equations of state were fitted to the density data of the molecular ices. The unusual thermal and mechanical properties of the molecular and binary ices suggest a larger range of phenomena than previously anticipated, sufficiently complex perhaps to account for many of the unusual geologic phenomena found on the icy satellites.

42 CFR 493.1255 - Standard: Calibration and calibration verification procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... affect the range used to report patient test results, and control values are not adversely affected by... that may influence test performance. (iii) Control materials reflect an unusual trend or shift, or are...

42 CFR 493.1255 - Standard: Calibration and calibration verification procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... affect the range used to report patient test results, and control values are not adversely affected by... that may influence test performance. (iii) Control materials reflect an unusual trend or shift, or are...

42 CFR 493.1255 - Standard: Calibration and calibration verification procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... affect the range used to report patient test results, and control values are not adversely affected by... that may influence test performance. (iii) Control materials reflect an unusual trend or shift, or are...

42 CFR 493.1255 - Standard: Calibration and calibration verification procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... affect the range used to report patient test results, and control values are not adversely affected by... that may influence test performance. (iii) Control materials reflect an unusual trend or shift, or are...

Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint.

PubMed

Reyes Macías, Juan Francisco; Sánchez Prieto, Martín

2007-01-01

Synovial Chondromatosis (SC) is a disease whose etiology is unknown, can be defined as a benign synovial process characterized by the formation of metaplastic cartilaginous nodes inside connective tissue of articular surfaces, is considered an active metaplastic phenomenon better than a neoplastic process; it presents a greater preference to affect women who constitute almost 70% of reported cases, the age range is wide and oscillates between 18-75 years (average 44.6 years). Between the main clinical findings are: pain, crackle, volume augmentation and a limited buccal opening. SC is an unusual state and the reports in the English literature are no more than 75 cases, only 66 of those where histologically verified, most of those were affecting great joints like hip, knee and shoulder, but if SC is not frequent in this sites, is even more infrequent on temporomandibular joint. The aim of this paper is to report a clinical case and at the same time to realize a brief review of the literature.

Afterslip Enhanced Aftershock Activity During the 2017 Earthquake Sequence Near Sulphur Peak, Idaho

DOE PAGES

Koper, Keith D.; Pankow, Kristine L.; Pechmann, James C.; ...

2018-05-29

An energetic earthquake sequence occurred during September to October 2017 near Sulphur Peak, Idaho. The normal–faulting M w 5.3 mainshock of 2 September 2017 was widely felt in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. Over 1,000 aftershocks were located within the first 2 months, 29 of which had magnitudes ≥4.0 M L. High–accuracy locations derived with data from a temporary seismic array show that the sequence occurred in the upper (<10 km) crust of the Aspen Range, east of the northern section of the range–bounding, west–dipping East Bear Lake Fault. Moment tensors for 77 of the largest events show normal and strike–slipmore » faulting with a summed aftershock moment that is 1.8–2.4 times larger than the mainshock moment. Here, we propose that the unusually high productivity of the 2017 Sulphur Peak sequence can be explained by aseismic afterslip, which triggered a secondary swarm south of the coseismic rupture zone beginning ~1 day after the mainshock.« less

Avoidance responses of minke whales to 1-4kHz naval sonar.

PubMed

Kvadsheim, Petter H; DeRuiter, Stacy; Sivle, Lise D; Goldbogen, Jeremy; Roland-Hansen, Rune; Miller, Patrick J O; Lam, Frans-Peter A; Calambokidis, John; Friedlaender, Ari; Visser, Fleur; Tyack, Peter L; Kleivane, Lars; Southall, Brandon

2017-08-15

Minke whales are difficult to study and little information exists regarding their responses to anthropogenic sound. This study pools data from behavioural response studies off California and Norway. Data are derived from four tagged animals, of which one from each location was exposed to naval sonar signals. Statistical analyses were conducted using Mahalanobis distance to compare overall changes in parameters summarising dive behaviour, avoidance behaviour, and potential energetic costs of disturbance. Our quantitative analysis showed that both animals initiated avoidance behaviour, but responses were not associated with unusual dive behaviour. In one exposed animal the avoidance of the sonar source included a 5-fold increase in horizontal speed away from the source, implying a significant increase in metabolic rate. Despite the different environmental settings and exposure contexts, clear changes in behaviour were observed providing the first insights into the nature of responses to human noise for this wide-ranging species. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Emergent multisystemic Enterococcus infection threatens endangered Christmas Island reptile populations

PubMed Central

Hall, Jane; Thompson, Paul; Eden, John-Sebastian; Srivastava, Mukesh; Tiernan, Brendan; Jenkins, Cheryl; Phalen, David

2017-01-01

Multisystemic infections with a morphologically unusual bacterium were first observed in captive critically endangered Lister’s geckos (Lepidodactylus listeri) on Christmas Island in October 2014. Since then the infection was identified in another captive critically endangered lizard species, the blue-tailed skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and two species of invasive geckos; the four clawed gecko (Gehyra mutilata) and Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus), in a wide geographic range across the east side of the island. The Gram and periodic acid-Schiff positive cocci to diplococci have a propensity to form chains surrounded by a matrix, which ultrastructurally appears to be formed by fibrillar capsular projections. The bacterium was associated with severe and extensive replacement of tissues, but minimal host inflammatory response. Attempts to grow the organism in culture and in embryonated eggs were unsuccessful. Molecular characterisation of the organism placed it as a novel member of the genus Enterococcus. Disease Risk Analyses including this organism should now be factored into conservation management actions and island biosecurity. PMID:28727845

Older People and Social Connectedness: How Place and Activities Keep People Engaged

PubMed Central

Yen, Irene H.; Shim, Janet K.; Martinez, Airin D.; Barker, Judith C.

2012-01-01

To understand how older adults perceive and navigate their neighborhoods, we examined the implications of activity in their neighborhoods for their health. We interviewed 38 adults (ages 62–85) who lived in San Francisco or Oakland, California. Seven key themes emerged: (1) people express a wide range of expectations for neighborliness, from “we do not bother each other” to “we have keys to each other's houses”, (2) social distance between “other” people impede a sense of connection, (3) ethnic differences in living arrangements affect activities and activity locations, (4) people try to stay busy, (5) people able to leave their homes do many activities outside their immediate residential neighborhoods, (6) access to a car is a necessity for most, and (7) it is unusual to plan for the future when mobility might become limited. Multiple locations influence older adults' health, including residential neighborhoods. Older adults value mobility, active lives, and social connections. PMID:22272374

Measurement of the cleavage energy of graphite

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

Wang, Wen; Dai, Shuyang; Li, Xide

Here, the basal plane cleavage energy (CE) of graphite is a key material parameter for understanding many of the unusual properties of graphite, graphene and carbon nanotubes. Nonetheless, a wide range of values for the CE has been reported and no consensus has yet emerged. Here we report the first direct, accurate experimental measurement of the CE of graphite using a novel method based on the self-retraction phenomenon in graphite. The measured value, 0.37±0.01 J m –2 for the incommensurate state of bicrystal graphite, is nearly invariant with respect to temperature (22 °C≤T≤198 °C) and bicrystal twist angle, and insensitivemore » to impurities from the atmosphere. The CE for the ideal ABAB graphite stacking, 0.39±0.02 J m –2, is calculated based on a combination of the measured CE and a theoretical calculation. These experimental measurements are also ideal for use in evaluating the efficacy of competing theoretical approaches.« less

Measurement of the cleavage energy of graphite

DOE PAGES

Wang, Wen; Dai, Shuyang; Li, Xide; ...

2015-08-28

Here, the basal plane cleavage energy (CE) of graphite is a key material parameter for understanding many of the unusual properties of graphite, graphene and carbon nanotubes. Nonetheless, a wide range of values for the CE has been reported and no consensus has yet emerged. Here we report the first direct, accurate experimental measurement of the CE of graphite using a novel method based on the self-retraction phenomenon in graphite. The measured value, 0.37±0.01 J m –2 for the incommensurate state of bicrystal graphite, is nearly invariant with respect to temperature (22 °C≤T≤198 °C) and bicrystal twist angle, and insensitivemore » to impurities from the atmosphere. The CE for the ideal ABAB graphite stacking, 0.39±0.02 J m –2, is calculated based on a combination of the measured CE and a theoretical calculation. These experimental measurements are also ideal for use in evaluating the efficacy of competing theoretical approaches.« less

Identification and Characterization of the Iridoid Synthase Involved in Oleuropein Biosynthesis in Olive (Olea europaea) Fruits*

PubMed Central

Kries, Hajo; Panara, Francesco; Baldoni, Luciana; O'Connor, Sarah E.; Osbourn, Anne

2016-01-01

The secoiridoids are the main class of specialized metabolites present in olive (Olea europaea L.) fruit. In particular, the secoiridoid oleuropein strongly influences olive oil quality because of its bitterness, which is a desirable trait. In addition, oleuropein possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. In accordance, obtaining high oleuropein varieties is a main goal of molecular breeding programs. Here we use a transcriptomic approach to identify candidate genes belonging to the secoiridoid pathway in olive. From these candidates, we have functionally characterized the olive homologue of iridoid synthase (OeISY), an unusual terpene cyclase that couples an NAD (P)H-dependent 1,4-reduction step with a subsequent cyclization, and we provide evidence that OeISY likely generates the monoterpene scaffold of oleuropein in olive fruits. OeISY, the first pathway gene characterized for this type of secoiridoid, is a potential target for breeding programs in a high value secoiridoid-accumulating species. PMID:26709230

Thermal fluctuations and elastic relaxation in the compressed exponential dynamics of colloidal gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouzid, Mehdi; Colombo, Jader; Del Gado, Emanuela

Colloidal gels belong to the class of amorphous systems, they are disordered elastic solids that can form at very low volume fraction, via aggregation into a rich variety of networks. They exhibit a slow relaxation process in the aging regime similar to the glassy dynamics. A wide range of experiments on colloidal gels show unusual compressed exponential of the relaxation dynamical properties. We use molecular dynamics simulation to investigate how the dynamic change with the age of the system. Upon breaking and reorganization of the network structure, the system may display stretched or compressed exponential relaxation. We show that the transition between these two regimes is associated to the interplay between thermally activated rearrangements and the elastic relaxation of internal stresses. In particular, ballistic-like displacements emerge from the non local relaxation of internal stresses mediated by a series of ''micro-collapses''. When thermal fluctuations dominate, the gel restructuring involves instead more homogeneous displacements across the heterogeneous gel network, leading to a stretched exponential type of relaxation.

Quantum transport in new two-dimensional heterostructures: Thin films of topological insulators, phosphorene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majidi, Leyla; Zare, Moslem; Asgari, Reza

2018-06-01

The unusual features of the charge and spin transport characteristics are investigated in new two-dimensional heterostructures. Intraband specular Andreev reflection is realized in a topological insulator thin film normal/superconducting junction in the presence of a gate electric field. Perfect specular electron-hole conversion is shown for different excitation energy values in a wide experimentally available range of the electric field and also for all angles of incidence when the excitation energy has a particular value. It is further demonstrated that the transmission probabilities of the incoming electrons from different spin subbands to the monolayer phosphorene ferromagnetic/normal/ferromagnetic (F/N/F) hybrid structure have different behavior with the angle of incidence and perfect transmission occurs at defined angles of incidence to the proposed structure with different length of the N region, and different alignments of magnetization vectors. Moreover, the sign change of the spin-current density is demonstrated by tuning the chemical potential and exchange field of the F region.

Influence of restraint and thermal exposure on welds in T-111 and ASTAR-811C

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gold, R. E.; Lessmann, G. G.

1971-01-01

The notched-tensile, tensile, and bend properties of GTA welds in T-111 and ASTAR-811C sheet were determined following a wide range of thermal exposures in order to define changes in ductility and mechanical property behavior due to weld aging response. No notch sensitivity or unusual tensile response was noted for any of the conditions evaluated. An aging response was noted for the bend ductile-brittle transition temperature determinations on both T-111 and ASTAR-811C welds. A tentative explanation for the observed response of each alloy is presented. In addition, the interrelationship of mechanical and chemical factors leading to underbead cracking in T-111 was investigated. The problem was shown to be amenable primarily to chemical solutions, such as alloy compositional changes. This was demonstrated by the improved performance of ASTAR-811C over T-111 in plate weld studies. Only modest success was achieved using procedural techniques as a means of eliminating underbead cracking.

Solidification and crystal growth of solid solution semiconducting alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lehoczky, S. L.; Szofran, F. R.

1984-01-01

Problems associated with the solidification and crytal growth of solid-solution semiconducting alloy crystals in a terrestrial environment are described. A detailed description is given of the results for the growth of mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) alloy crystals by directional solidification, because of their considerable technological importance. A series of HgCdTe alloy crystals are grown from pseudobinary melts by a vertical Bridgman method using a wide range of growth rates and thermal conditions. Precision measurements are performed to establish compositional profiles for the crystals. The compositional variations are related to compositional variations in the melts that can result from two-dimensional diffusion or density gradient driven flow effects ahead of the growth interface. These effects are discussed in terms of the alloy phase equilibrium properties, the recent high temperature thermophysical data for the alloys and the highly unusual heat transfer characteristics of the alloy/ampule/furnace system that may readily lead to double diffusive convective flows in a gravitational environment.

The structure of the S-layer of Clostridium difficile.

PubMed

Bradshaw, William J; Roberts, April K; Shone, Clifford C; Acharya, K Ravi

2018-03-01

The nosocomially acquired pathogen Clostridium difficile is the primary causative agent of antibiotic associated diarrhoea and causes tens of thousands of deaths globally each year. C. difficile presents a paracrystalline protein array on the surface of the cell known as an S-layer. S-layers have been demonstrated to possess a wide range of important functions, which, combined with their inherent accessibility, makes them a promising drug target. The unusually complex S-layer of C. difficile is primarily comprised of the high- and low- molecular weight S-layer proteins, HMW SLP and LMW SLP, formed from the cleavage of the S-layer precursor protein, SlpA, but may also contain up to 28 SlpA paralogues. A model of how the S-layer functions as a whole is required if it is to be exploited in fighting the bacterium. Here, we provide a summary of what is known about the S-layer of C. difficile and each of the paralogues and, considering some of the domains present, suggest potential roles for them.

Cryptic indole hydroxylation by a non-canonical terpenoid cyclase parallels bacterial xenobiotic detoxification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kugel, Susann; Baunach, Martin; Baer, Philipp; Ishida-Ito, Mie; Sundaram, Srividhya; Xu, Zhongli; Groll, Michael; Hertweck, Christian

2017-06-01

Terpenoid natural products comprise a wide range of molecular architectures that typically result from C-C bond formations catalysed by classical type I/II terpene cyclases. However, the molecular diversity of biologically active terpenoids is substantially increased by fully unrelated, non-canonical terpenoid cyclases. Their evolutionary origin has remained enigmatic. Here we report the in vitro reconstitution of an unusual flavin-dependent bacterial indoloterpenoid cyclase, XiaF, together with a designated flavoenzyme-reductase (XiaP) that mediates a key step in xiamycin biosynthesis. The crystal structure of XiaF with bound FADH2 (at 2.4 Å resolution) and phylogenetic analyses reveal that XiaF is, surprisingly, most closely related to xenobiotic-degrading enzymes. Biotransformation assays show that XiaF is a designated indole hydroxylase that can be used for the production of indigo and indirubin. We unveil a cryptic hydroxylation step that sets the basis for terpenoid cyclization and suggest that the cyclase has evolved from xenobiotics detoxification enzymes.

Deterioration of expanded polystyrene caused by Aureobasidium pullulans var. melanogenum.

PubMed

Castiglia, Valeria C; Kuhar, Francisco

2015-01-01

An expanded-polystyrene factory located in northern Buenos Aires reported unusual dark spots causing esthetic damage in their production. A fungal strain forming black-olive colonies on extract malt agar medium was isolated from the damaged material and identified as Aureobasidium pullullans var. melanogenum. This fungus is particularly known for its capacity to produce hydrolytic enzymes and a biodegradable extracellular polysaccharide known as pullulan, which is used in the manufacture of packaging material for food and medicine. Laboratory tests were conducted to characterize its growth parameters. It was found that the organism was resistant to a wide range of pHs but did not survive at temperatures over 65°C. The proposed action plan includes drying of the material prior to packaging and disinfection of the machinery used in the manufacturing process and of the silos used for raw material storage. Copyright © 2014 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Afterslip Enhanced Aftershock Activity During the 2017 Earthquake Sequence Near Sulphur Peak, Idaho

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

Koper, Keith D.; Pankow, Kristine L.; Pechmann, James C.

An energetic earthquake sequence occurred during September to October 2017 near Sulphur Peak, Idaho. The normal–faulting M w 5.3 mainshock of 2 September 2017 was widely felt in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. Over 1,000 aftershocks were located within the first 2 months, 29 of which had magnitudes ≥4.0 M L. High–accuracy locations derived with data from a temporary seismic array show that the sequence occurred in the upper (<10 km) crust of the Aspen Range, east of the northern section of the range–bounding, west–dipping East Bear Lake Fault. Moment tensors for 77 of the largest events show normal and strike–slipmore » faulting with a summed aftershock moment that is 1.8–2.4 times larger than the mainshock moment. Here, we propose that the unusually high productivity of the 2017 Sulphur Peak sequence can be explained by aseismic afterslip, which triggered a secondary swarm south of the coseismic rupture zone beginning ~1 day after the mainshock.« less

Direct observation shows superposition and large scale flexibility within cytoplasmic dynein motors moving along microtubules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imai, Hiroshi; Shima, Tomohiro; Sutoh, Kazuo; Walker, Matthew L.; Knight, Peter J.; Kon, Takahide; Burgess, Stan A.

2015-09-01

Cytoplasmic dynein is a dimeric AAA+ motor protein that performs critical roles in eukaryotic cells by moving along microtubules using ATP. Here using cryo-electron microscopy we directly observe the structure of Dictyostelium discoideum dynein dimers on microtubules at near-physiological ATP concentrations. They display remarkable flexibility at a hinge close to the microtubule binding domain (the stalkhead) producing a wide range of head positions. About half the molecules have the two heads separated from one another, with both leading and trailing motors attached to the microtubule. The other half have the two heads and stalks closely superposed in a front-to-back arrangement of the AAA+ rings, suggesting specific contact between the heads. All stalks point towards the microtubule minus end. Mean stalk angles depend on the separation between their stalkheads, which allows estimation of inter-head tension. These findings provide a structural framework for understanding dynein's directionality and unusual stepping behaviour.

More shock recovery experiments on mesosiderite analogs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rowan, L. R.; Mittlefehldt, D. W.

1994-01-01

Mesosiderites, a small but unique group of stony-iron meteorites with affinities to howardites, eucrites, and pallasites, remain enigmatic in terms of their petrogenesis. They are composed of approximately equal weight proportions of Fe-Ni metal plus troilite and gabbroic, basaltic, and orthopyroxenitic materials. The metal and silicates, which display variable grain sizes and shapes, are delicately intermingled, forming irregular grain boundaries that have been attributed to a wide range of origins from subsolidus metamorphism to supersolidus igneous processes. Perhaps the most relevant question regarding the petrogenesis of mesosiderites is: what is the source and duration of heating that could produce the unequilibrated textures and chemistry of these meteorites? A leading candidate appears to be impacts of metallic core fragments with a differentiated asteroidal surface. This provides not only a suitable source of heat, but also the metal component uniquely required by mesosiderites. A series of shock recovery experiments on mesosiderite analogs has been continued. Textural and chemical similarities have been found that support an impact-derived origin for these unusual meteorites.

Landslides triggered by the 2002 Denali fault, Alaska, earthquake and the inferred nature of the strong shaking

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jibson, R.W.; Harp, E.L.; Schulz, W.; Keefer, D.K.

2004-01-01

The 2002 M7.9 Denali fault, Alaska, earthquake triggered thousands of landslides, primarily rock falls and rock slides, that ranged in volume from rock falls of a few cubic meters to rock avalanches having volumes as great as 15 ?? 106 m3. The pattern of landsliding was unusual; the number of slides was less than expected for an earthquake of this magnitude, and the landslides were concentrated in a narrow zone 30-km wide that straddled the fault rupture over its entire 300-km length. The large rock avalanches all clustered along the western third of the rupture zone where acceleration levels and ground-shaking frequencies are thought to have been the highest. Inferences about near-field strong shaking characteristics drawn from the interpretation of the landslide distribution are consistent with results of recent inversion modeling that indicate high-frequency energy generation was greatest in the western part of the fault rupture zone and decreased markedly to the east. ?? 2004, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.

Purification and characterization of creatine kinase isozymes from the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum.

PubMed

Gray, K A; Grossman, S H; Summers, D D

1986-01-01

Creatine kinase from nurse shark brain and muscle has been purified to apparent homogeneity. In contrast to creatine kinases from most other vertebrate species, the muscle isozyme and the brain isozyme from nurse shark migrate closely in electrophoresis and, unusually, the muscle isozyme is anodal to the brain isozyme. The isoelectric points are 5.3 and 6.2 for the muscle and brain isozymes, respectively. The purified brain preparation also contains a second active protein with pI 6.0. The amino acid content of the muscle isozyme is compared with other isozymes of creatine kinase using the Metzger Difference Index as an estimation of compositional relatedness. All comparisons show a high degree of compositional similarity including arginine kinase from lobster muscle. The muscle isozyme is marginally more resistant to temperature inactivation than the brain isozyme; the muscle protein does not exhibit unusual stability towards high concentrations of urea. Kinetic analysis of the muscle isozyme reveals Michaelis constants of 1.6 mM MgATP, 12 mM creatine, 1.2 mM MgADP and 50 mM creatine phosphate. Dissociation constants for the same substrate from the binary and ternary enzyme-substrate complex do not differ significantly, indicating limited cooperatively in substrate binding. Enzyme activity is inhibited by small planar anions, most severely by nitrate. Shark muscle creatine kinase hybridizes in vitro with rabbit muscle or monkey brain creatine kinase; shark brain isozyme hybridizes with monkey brain or rabbit brain creatine kinase. Shark muscle and shark brain isozymes, under a wide range of conditions, failed to produce a detectable hybrid.

Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase from Sulfolobus solfataricus is an enzyme with unusual kinetic properties and a crystal structure that suggests it evolved from a 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferase.

PubMed

Jensen, Kaj Frank; Hansen, Michael Riis; Jensen, Kristine Steen; Christoffersen, Stig; Poulsen, Jens-Christian Navarro; Mølgaard, Anne; Kadziola, Anders

2015-04-14

The adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRTase) encoded by the open reading frame SSO2342 of Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 was subjected to crystallographic, kinetic, and ligand binding analyses. The enzyme forms dimers in solution and in the crystals, and binds one molecule of the reactants 5-phosphoribosyl-α-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) and adenine or the product adenosine monophosphate (AMP) or the inhibitor adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in each active site. The individual subunit adopts an overall structure that resembles a 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferase (PRTase) more than known APRTases implying that APRT functionality in Crenarchaeotae has its evolutionary origin in this family of PRTases. Only the N-terminal two-thirds of the polypeptide chain folds as a traditional type I PRTase with a five-stranded β-sheet surrounded by helices. The C-terminal third adopts an unusual three-helix bundle structure that together with the nucleobase-binding loop undergoes a conformational change upon binding of adenine and phosphate resulting in a slight contraction of the active site. The inhibitor ADP binds like the product AMP with both the α- and β-phosphates occupying the 5'-phosphoribosyl binding site. The enzyme shows activity over a wide pH range, and the kinetic and ligand binding properties depend on both pH and the presence/absence of phosphate in the buffers. A slow hydrolysis of PRPP to ribose 5-phosphate and pyrophosphate, catalyzed by the enzyme, may be facilitated by elements in the C-terminal three-helix bundle part of the protein.

Discovery of the male of the rare caligiform copepod Kabataia Kazachenko, Korotaeva & Kurochkin, 1972 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida), with a reconsideration of its phylogenetic affinities.

PubMed

Hutson, Kate S; Boxshall, Geoffrey A

2016-10-11

We report the discovery of the male of the rare caligiform copepod Kabataia ostorhynchi Kazachenko, Korotaeva & Kurochkin, 1972 on the gills of the type-host Oplegnathus woodwardi (Waite, 1900) captured in the Southern Ocean, off Australia. Light and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the unusual body plan of Kabataia Kazachenko, Korotaeva & Kurochkin, 1972, where only the first pedigerous somite is incorporated into the cephalothorax and the second and third pedigerous somites are fused to form a double-somite, visible both dorsally and ventrally. The adult female carries paired dorsal plates originating from the second pedigerous somite within this double-somite. In the male the second and third pedigerous somites are free and paired dorsal plates are present on the former. Kabataia exhibits sexual dimorphism in an unusually wide range of limbs. Most remarkable is the tubular extension from the exit pore of the maxillary gland at the base of the maxilla which reaches beyond the anterior margin of the mouth tube; this is present in the male only. Kabataia exhibits a functional articulation between the first and second pedigerous somites and thus lacks the diagnostic apomorphy of the family Trebiidae (incorporation of both first and second pedigerous somites into the cephalothorax). We propose to transfer Kabataia to the Pandaridae, since it shares the key synapomorphies of this family. Furthermore, we propose to transfer Innaprokofevnas Kazachenko, 2001 to the Dissonidae, which leaves Trebius Krøyer, 1838 as the only genus within the Trebiidae. The correct spelling of Philorthragoriscus Horst, 1897 is noted.

Blastobotrys (Arxula) adeninivorans: a promising alternative yeast for biotechnology and basic research.

PubMed

Malak, Anna; Baronian, Kim; Kunze, Gotthard

2016-10-01

Blastobotrys adeninivorans (syn. Arxula adeninivorans) is a non-conventional, non-pathogenic, imperfect, haploid yeast, belonging to the subphylum Saccharomycotina, which has to date received comparatively little attention from researchers. It possesses unusual properties such as thermo- and osmotolerance, and a broad substrate spectrum. Depending on the cultivation temperature B. (A.) adeninivorans exhibits different morphological forms and various post-translational modifications and protein expression properties that are strongly correlated with the morphology. The genome has been completely sequenced and, in addition, there is a well-developed transformation/expression platform, which makes rapid, simple gene manipulations possible. This yeast species is a very good host for homologous and heterologous gene expression and is also a useful gene donor. Blastobotrys (A.) adeninivorans is able to use a very wide range of substrates as carbon and/or nitrogen sources and is an interesting organism owing to the presence of many metabolic pathways, for example degradation of n-butanol, purines and tannin. In addition, its unusual properties and robustness make it a useful bio-component for whole cell biosensors. There are currently a number of products on the market produced by B. (A.) adeninivorans and further investigation may contribute further innovative solutions for current challenges that exist in the biotechnology industry. Additionally it may become a useful alternative to existing commercial yeast strains and as a model organism in research. In this review we present information relevant to the exploitation of B. (A.) adeninivorans in research and industrial settings. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Electron nematic fluid in a strained S r3R u2O7 film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marshall, Patrick B.; Ahadi, Kaveh; Kim, Honggyu; Stemmer, Susanne

2018-04-01

S r3R u2O7 belongs to the family of layered strontium ruthenates and exhibits a range of unusual emergent properties, such as electron nematic behavior and metamagnetism. Here, we show that epitaxial film strain significantly modifies these phenomena. In particular, we observe enhanced magnetic interactions and an electron nematic phase that extends to much higher temperatures and over a larger magnetic-field range than in bulk single crystals. Furthermore, the films show an unusual anisotropic non-Fermi-liquid behavior that is controlled by the direction of the applied magnetic field. At high magnetic fields, the metamagnetic transition to a ferromagnetic phase recovers isotropic Fermi-liquid behavior. The results support the interpretation that these phenomena are linked to the special features of the Fermi surface, which can be tuned by both film strain and an applied magnetic field.

Unusual tremor syndromes: know in order to recognise.

PubMed

Ure, Robert J; Dhanju, Sanveer; Lang, Anthony E; Fasano, Alfonso

2016-11-01

Tremor is a common neurological condition in clinical practice; yet, few syndromes are widely recognised and discussed in the literature. As a result, there is an overdiagnosis of well-known causes, such as essential tremor. Many important unusual syndromes should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with tremor. The objective of this review is to provide broad clinical information to aid in the recognition and treatment of various unusual tremor syndromes in the adult and paediatric populations. The review comprised of a comprehensive online search using PubMed, Ovid database and Google Scholar to identify the available literature for each unusual tremor syndrome. The review includes fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxia type 12, tremors caused by autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias, myorhythmia, isolated tongue tremor, Wilson's disease, slow orthostatic tremor, peripheral trauma-induced tremor, tardive tremor and rabbit syndrome, paroxysmal tremors (hereditary chin tremor, bilateral high-frequency synchronous discharges, head tremor, limb-shaking transient ischaemic attack), bobble-head doll syndrome, spasmus nutans and shuddering attacks. Rare tremors generally present with an action tremor and a variable combination of postural and kinetic components with resting tremors less frequently seen. The phenomenology of myorhythmia is still vague and a clinical definition is proposed. The recognition of these entities should facilitate the correct diagnosis and guide the physician to a prompt intervention. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Diagnostic Value of Run Chart Analysis: Using Likelihood Ratios to Compare Run Chart Rules on Simulated Data Series

PubMed Central

Anhøj, Jacob

2015-01-01

Run charts are widely used in healthcare improvement, but there is little consensus on how to interpret them. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic properties of different sets of run chart rules. A run chart is a line graph of a quality measure over time. The main purpose of the run chart is to detect process improvement or process degradation, which will turn up as non-random patterns in the distribution of data points around the median. Non-random variation may be identified by simple statistical tests including the presence of unusually long runs of data points on one side of the median or if the graph crosses the median unusually few times. However, there is no general agreement on what defines “unusually long” or “unusually few”. Other tests of questionable value are frequently used as well. Three sets of run chart rules (Anhoej, Perla, and Carey rules) have been published in peer reviewed healthcare journals, but these sets differ significantly in their sensitivity and specificity to non-random variation. In this study I investigate the diagnostic values expressed by likelihood ratios of three sets of run chart rules for detection of shifts in process performance using random data series. The study concludes that the Anhoej rules have good diagnostic properties and are superior to the Perla and the Carey rules. PMID:25799549

Mortality of aspen on the Gros Ventre elk winter range

Treesearch

Richard G. Krebill

1972-01-01

Stands of aspen on the Gros Ventre elk winter range of northwestern Wyoming are suffering high mortality and are not regenerating satisfactorily. If the 1970 mortality rate (3.6 percent) continues, about a two-thirds reduction in the numbers of tree-sized aspen can be expected by year 2000. Collected evidence suggests that the mortality rate is unusually high because...

Variable Stars In the Unusual, Metal-Rich Globular Cluster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pritzl, Barton J.; Smith, Horace A.; Catelan, Marcio; Sweigart, Allen V.; Oegerle, William R. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We have undertaken a search for variable stars in the metal-rich globular cluster NGC 6388 using time-series BV photometry. Twenty-eight new variables were found in this survey, increasing the total number of variables found near NGC 6388 to approx. 57. A significant number of the variables are RR Lyrae (approx. 14), most of which are probable cluster members. The periods of the fundamental mode RR Lyrae are shown to be unusually long compared to metal-rich field stars. The existence of these long period RRab stars suggests that the horizontal branch of NGC 6388 is unusually bright. This implies that the metallicity-luminosity relationship for RR Lyrae stars is not universal if the RR Lyrae in NGC 6388 are indeed metal-rich. We consider the alternative possibility that the stars in NGC 6388 may span a range in [Fe/H]. Four candidate Population II Cepheids were also found. If they are members of the cluster, NGC 6388 would be the most metal-rich globular cluster to contain Population II Cepheids. The mean V magnitude of the RR Lyrae is found to be 16.85 +/- 0.05 resulting in a distance of 9.0 to 10.3 kpc, for a range of assumed values of (M(sub V)) for RR Lyrae. We determine the reddening of the cluster to be E(B - V) = 0.40 +/- 0.03 mag, with differential reddening across the face of the cluster. We discuss the difficulty in determining the Oosterhoff classification of NGC 6388 and NGC 6441 due to the unusual nature of their RR Lyrae, and address evolutionary constraints on a recent suggestion that they are of Oosterhoff type II.

Growth retardation, intellectual disability, facial anomalies, cataract, thoracic hypoplasia and skeletal abnormalities: a novel phenotype

PubMed Central

Shah, Hitesh; Bens, Susanne; Caliebe, Almuth; Graham, John M.; Girisha, Katta Mohan

2012-01-01

We report a fourteen year old adolescent girl with growth deficiency, microcephaly, intellectual disability, distinctive dysmorphic features (bulbous nose with wide nasal base, hypotelorism, deeply set eyes, protruding cupped ears and thick lips), cataract, pigmentary retinopathy, hypoplastic thorax, kyphoscoliosis and unusual skeletal changes but without chromosomal imbalances detected by array-CGH who probably represents a novel phenotype. PMID:22987502

Synthetic Chemicals with Potential for Natural Attenuation (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-07-01

The purpose of this paper is to describe examples of other synthetic organic compounds that are known to be biodegradable ...chlorophenols are unusual among the synthetic compounds discussed here in that they can be very toxic to microorganisms . They are often used as biocides...widely distributed. In contract, bacteria able to grow at the expense of chlorinated aliphatic compounds are less common and the

Osteoid producing primary lesion at morphologic and biologic interface.

PubMed

Sarkar, Reena Radhikaprasad

2015-01-01

Fibroosseous gnathic lesions comprise a wide spectrum of diseases. Many of the entities have overlapping features. A pediatric case is encountered with a complex clinicopathologic profile. Although radiographically the lesion appears benign but on histopathological examination it possesses features of osteoid producing aggressive neoplasm. This paper highlights the unusual histologic features existing within the spectrum of fibroosseous lesions and discusses relevant clinicopathologic correlations.

Unusual Structure and Magnetism in MnO Nanoclusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganguly, Shreemoyee; Kabir, Mukul; Sanyal, Biplab; Mookerjee, Abhijit

2011-03-01

We report an unusual structural and magnetic evolution in stoichiometric MnO nanoclusters by an extensive and unbiased search through the potential energy surface within density functional theory. The (MnO)n nanoclusters adopt two-dimensional structures in size ranges in which Mnn nanoclusters are three-dimensional and regardless of the size of the nanocluster, the magnetic coupling is found to be antiferromagnetic, and is strikingly different from Mn-based molecular magnets. Both of these features are explained through the inherent electronic structures of the nanoclusters. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from Swedish Research Links program funded by VR/SIDA and Carl Tryggers Foundation, Sweden.

Unusual Emissions at Various Energies Prior to the Impulsive Phase of the Large Solar Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection of 4 November 2003

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaufmann, Pierre; Holman, Gordon D.; Su, Yang; de Castro, C. Guillermo Gimenez; Correia, Emilia; Fernandes, Luis O. T.; de Souza, Rodney V.; Marun, Adolfo; Pereyra, Pablo

2012-01-01

The GOES X28 flare of 4 November 2003 was the largest ever recorded in its class. It produced the first evidence for two spectrally separated emission components, one at microwaves and the other in the THz range of frequencies.We analyzed the pre-flare phase of this large flare, twenty minutes before the onset of the major impulsive burst. This periodis characterized by unusual activity in X-rays, sub-THz frequencies, H, and microwaves.The CME onset occurred before the onset of the large burst by about 6 min.

Thermostable, salt tolerant, wide pH range novel chitobiase from Vibrio parahemolyticus: isolation, characterization, molecular cloning, and expression.

PubMed

Zhu, B C; Lo, J Y; Li, Y T; Li, S C; Jaynes, J M; Gildemeister, O S; Laine, R A; Ou, C Y

1992-07-01

A chitobiase gene from Vibrio parahemolyticus was cloned into plasmid pUC18 in Escherichia coli strain DH5 alpha. The plasmid construct, pC120, contained a 6.4 kb Vibrio DNA insert. The recombinant gene expressed chitobiase [EC 3.2.1.30] activity similar to that found in the native Vibrio. The enzyme was purified by ion exchange, hydroxylapatite and gel permeation chromatographies, and exhibited an apparent molecular weight of 80 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Chitobiose and 6 more substrates, including beta-N-acetyl galactosamine glycosides, were hydrolyzed by the recombinant chitobiase, indicating its putative classification as an hexosaminidase [EC 3.2.1.52]. The enzyme was resistant to denaturation by 2 M NaCl, thermostable at 45 degrees C and active over a very unusual (for glycosyl hydrolases) pH range, from 4 to 10. The purified cloned chitobiase gave 4 closely focussed bands on an isoelectric focusing gel, at pH 4 to 6.5. The N-terminal 43 amino acid sequence shows no homology with other proteins in commercial databanks or in the literature, and from its N-terminal sequence, appears to be a novel protein, unrelated in sequence to chitobiases from other Vibrios reported and unrelated to hexosaminidases from other organisms.

Geographic variation in morphology of Alaska-breeding Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) is not maintained on their nonbreeding grounds in New Zealand

USGS Publications Warehouse

Conklin, Jesse R.; Battley, Phil F.; Potter, Murray A.; Ruthrauff, Daniel R.

2011-01-01

Among scolopacid shorebirds, Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) have unusually high intra- and intersexual differences in size and breeding plumage. Despite historical evidence for population structure among Alaska-breeding Bar-tailed Godwits (L. l. baueri), no thorough analysis, or comparison with the population's nonbreeding distribution, has been undertaken. We used live captures, field photography, museum specimens, and individuals tracked from New Zealand to describe geographic variation in size and plumage within the Alaska breeding range. We found a north-south cline in body size in Alaska, in which the smallest individuals of each sex occurred at the highest latitudes. Extent of male breeding plumage (proportion of nonbreeding contour feathers replaced) also increased with latitude, but female breeding plumage was most extensive at mid-latitudes. This population structure was not maintained in the nonbreeding season: morphometrics of captured birds and timing of migratory departures indicated that individuals from a wide range of breeding latitudes occur in each region and site in New Zealand. Links among morphology, phenology, and breeding location suggest the possibility of distinct Alaska breeding populations that mix freely in the nonbreeding season, and also imply that the strongest selection for size occurs in the breeding season.

Phononic band gap and wave propagation on polyvinylidene fluoride-based acoustic metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oltulu, Oral; Simsek, Sevket; Mamedov, Amirullah M.; Ozbay, Ekmel

2016-12-01

In the present work, the acoustic band structure of a two-dimensional phononic crystal (PC) containing an organic ferroelectric (PVDF-polyvinylidene fluoride) and topological insulator (SnTe) was investigated by the plane-wave-expansion (PWE) method. Two-dimensional PC with square lattices composed of SnTe cylindrical rods embedded in the PVDF matrix is studied to find the allowed and stop bands for the waves of certain energy. Phononic band diagram ω = ω(k) for a 2D PC, in which non-dimensional frequencies ωa/2πc (c-velocity of wave) were plotted vs. the wavevector k along the Г-X-M-Г path in the square Brillouin zone shows five stop bands in the frequency range between 10 and 110 kHz. The ferroelectric properties of PVDF and the unusual properties of SnTe as a topological material give us the ability to control the wave propagation through the PC over a wide frequency range of 103-106 Hz. SnTe is a discrete component that allows conducting electricity on its surface but shows insulator properties through its bulk volume. Tin telluride is considered as an acoustic topological insulator as the extension of topological insulators into the field of "topological phononics".

CARBON NANOTUBES IN MICROWAVE ENVIRONMENT-IGNITION AND RECONSTRUCTION

EPA Science Inventory

The unusual property of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), multi-wall (MWNT) nanotubes and Buckminsterfullerene (C-60) is observed upon exposure to microwave-assisted ignition. Carbon nanotubes known for a range of mechanical and electronic properties because of their unique...

Sum and mean. Standard programs for activation analysis.

PubMed

Lindstrom, R M

1994-01-01

Two computer programs in use for over a decade in the Nuclear Methods Group at NIST illustrate the utility of standard software: programs widely available and widely used, in which (ideally) well-tested public algorithms produce results that are well understood, and thereby capable of comparison, within the community of users. Sum interactively computes the position, net area, and uncertainty of the area of spectral peaks, and can give better results than automatic peak search programs when peaks are very small, very large, or unusually shaped. Mean combines unequal measurements of a single quantity, tests for consistency, and obtains the weighted mean and six measures of its uncertainty.

Extreme infrared variables from UKIDSS - II. An end-of-survey catalogue of eruptive YSOs and unusual stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucas, P. W.; Smith, L. C.; Contreras Peña, C.; Froebrich, D.; Drew, J. E.; Kumar, M. S. N.; Borissova, J.; Minniti, D.; Kurtev, R.; Monguió, M.

2017-12-01

We present a catalogue of 618 high-amplitude infrared variable stars (1 < ΔK < 5 mag) detected by the two widely separated epochs of 2.2 μm data in the UKIDSS Galactic plane survey, from searches covering ∼1470 deg2. Most were discovered by a search of all fields at 30 < l < 230°. Sources include new dusty Mira variables, three new cataclysmic variable candidates, a blazar and a peculiar source that may be an interacting binary system. However, ∼60 per cent are young stellar obbjects (YSOs), based on spatial association with star-forming regions at distances ranging from 300 pc to over 10 kpc. This confirms our initial result in Contreras Peña et al. (Paper I) that YSOs dominate the high-amplitude infrared variable sky in the Galactic disc. It is also supported by recently published VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) results at 295 < l < 350°. The spectral energy distributions of the YSOs indicate class I or flat-spectrum systems in most cases, as in the VVV sample. A large number of variable YSOs are associated with the Cygnus X complex and other groups are associated with the North America/Pelican nebula, the Gemini OB1 molecular cloud, the Rosette complex, the Cone nebula, the W51 star-forming region and the S86 and S236 H II regions. Most of the YSO variability is likely due to variable/episodic accretion on time-scales of years, albeit usually less extreme than classical FUors and EXors. Luminosities at the 2010 Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer epoch range from ∼0.1 to 103 L⊙ but only rarely exceed 102.5 L⊙.

Spin morphologies and heat dissipation in spherical assemblies of magnetic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anand, Manish; Carrey, Julian; Banerjee, Varsha

2016-09-01

Aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) exhibit unusual properties due to the interplay of small system size and long-range dipole-dipole interactions. Using the micromagnetic simulation software oommf, we study the spin morphologies and heat dissipation in micron-size spherical assemblies of MNPs. In particular, we examine the sensitivity of these properties to the dipolar strength, manipulated by the interparticle separation. As oommf is not designed for such a study, we have incorporated a novel scaling protocol for this purpose. We believe that it is essential for all studies where volume fractions are varied. Our main results are as follows: (i) Dense assemblies exhibit strong dipolar effects which yield local magnetic order in the core but not on the surface, where moments are randomly oriented. (ii) The probability distribution of ground-state energy exhibits a long high-energy tail for surface spins in contrast to small tails for the core spins. Consequently, there is a wide variation in the energy of surface spins but not the core spins. (iii) There is strong correlation between ground-state energy and heating properties on application of an oscillating magnetic field h (t ) =hocos2 π f t : the particles in the core heat uniformly, while those on the surface exhibit a wide range from cold to intensely hot. (iv) Specific choices of ho and f yield characteristic spatial heat distributions, e.g., hot surface and cold core, or vice versa. (iv) For all values of ho and f that we consider, heating was maximum at a specific volume fraction. These results are especially relevant in the context of contemporary applications such as hyperthermia and chemotherapy, and also for novel materials such as smart polymer beads and superspin glasses.

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma thyroid from functionally cured cancer cervix

PubMed Central

Vamsy, Mohana; Dattatreya, Palanki Satya; Sarma, Lella Yugandhar; Dayal, Monal; Janardhan, Nandigam; Rao, Vatturi Venkata Satya Prabhakar

2013-01-01

The authors report a very unusual occurrence of a metastatic squamous carcinoma to thyroid gland from a treated squamous cell carcinoma cervix 12 years before with no recurrence at the primary site. The case also has an additional complexity of rapid progression of the metastatic thyroid carcinoma to wide spread dissemination to lungs and bones while on concurrent chemo radio therapy confirming the aggressiveness of the entity. PMID:24163519

Bomb Detection System Study

DTIC Science & Technology

1965-01-01

cause the reduction in vapor pressure. To determine whether an explosive can be detected thi ugh its * vapor, it is necessary to know the vapor pressures...Smokeless powders are explosives normally used in shotgun powders and can vary widely in composition. Nitrocellulose is the major :oomponent. Dinitrotoluene...will not be inclined to undertake the risky process except under very unusual circum- stances. Black powder is an obvious choice and has been so in

Unusual continuous dual absorption peaks in Ca-doped BiFeO3 nanostructures for broadened microwave absorption.

PubMed

Li, Zhong-Jun; Hou, Zhi-Ling; Song, Wei-Li; Liu, Xing-Da; Cao, Wen-Qiang; Shao, Xiao-Hong; Cao, Mao-Sheng

2016-05-21

Electromagnetic absorption materials have received increasing attention owing to their wide applications in aerospace, communication and the electronics industry, and multiferroic materials with both polarization and magnetic properties are considered promising ceramics for microwave absorption application. However, the insufficient absorption intensity coupled with the narrow effective absorption bandwidth has limited the development of high-performance multiferroic materials for practical microwave absorption. To address such issues, in the present work, we utilize interfacial engineering in BiFeO3 nanoparticles via Ca doping, with the purpose of tailoring the phase boundary. Upon Ca-substitution, the co-existence of both R3c and P4mm phases has been confirmed to massively enhance both dielectric and magnetic properties via manipulating the phase boundary and the destruction of the spiral spin structure. Unlike the commonly reported magnetic/dielectric hybrid microwave absorption composites, Bi0.95Ca0.05FeO3 has been found to deliver unusual continuous dual absorption peaks at a small thickness (1.56 mm), which has remarkably broadened the effective absorption bandwidth (8.7-12.1 GHz). The fundamental mechanisms based on the phase boundary engineering have been discussed, suggesting a novel platform for designing advanced multiferroic materials with wide applications.

Dust Streams from Tunisia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

On October 6, 2001, the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) captured this true-color image of a large dust storm blowing northeastward across the Mediterranean Sea from Tunisia. According to Joseph Prospero, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Miami, there is an unusual arc-shaped 'front' to the dust cloud. The storm's shape suggests that the source of the dust is rather small and that the meteorology driving it rather unusual. The dust seems to be coming out of the wadis, dry lakebeds and riverbeds, at the base of the Tell Atlas Mountains in northern Tunisia and eastern Algeria. The dust appears to be blowing toward the island of Sicily, Italy (toward the upper righthand corner). Also notice there is a relatively thin plume of smoke emanating eastward from the top of Mount Etna on Sicily. Image courtesy the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE

Atmospheric Fragmentation of the Canyon Diablo Meteoroid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierazzo, E.; Artemieva, N. A.

2005-01-01

About 50 kyr ago the impact of an iron meteoroid excavated Meteor Crater, Arizona, the first terrestrial structure widely recognized as a meteorite impact crater. Recent studies of ballistically dispersed impact melts from Meteor Crater indicate a compositionally unusually heterogeneous impact melt with high SiO2 and exceptionally high (10 to 25% on average) levels of projectile contamination. These are observations that must be explained by any theoretical modeling of the impact event. Simple atmospheric entry models for an iron meteorite similar to Canyon Diablo indicate that the surface impact speed should have been around 12 km/s [Melosh, personal comm.], not the 15-20 km/s generally assumed in previous impact models. This may help explaining the unusual characteristics of the impact melt at Meteor Crater. We present alternative initial estimates of the motion in the atmosphere of an iron projectile similar to Canyon Diablo, to constraint the initial conditions of the impact event that generated Meteor Crater.

Autonomous and driven dynamics of spin torque nano-oscillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urazhdin, Sergei

2012-02-01

Understanding the dynamical properties of autonomous spin torque nano-oscillators (STNO) and their response to external perturbations is important for their applications as nanoscale microwave sources. We used spectroscopic measurements to study the dynamical characteristics of nanopillar- and point contact-based STNOs incorporating a microstrip in close proximity to the active magnetic layer. By applying microwave current at frequency fext to the microstrip, we were able to generate large microwave fields of more than 30 Oe rms at the location of STNO. We demonstrate that for a wide range of fext, STNO exhibits multiple synchronization regimes with integer and non-integer rational ratios between fext and the oscillation frequency f. We show that the synchronization ranges are determined by the symmetry of the oscillation orbit and the orientation of the driving field relative to the symmetry axis of the orbit. We observe synchronization hysteresis, i.e. a dependence of the synchronization limits on the dynamical history caused by the nonlinearity of STNO. We also show that the oscillation can be parametrically excited in the subcritical regime of STNO by a microwave field at twice the frequency of the oscillation. By measuring the threshold and the frequency range of parametric excitation, we determine damping, spin-polarization efficiency, and coupling to the microwave signal. In addition, by measuring the frequency range of parametric synchronization in the auto-oscillation regime, we determine the dynamic nonlinearity of the nanomagnet. Thus, analysis of the driven oscillations provides complete information about the dynamical characteristics of STNO. Finally, we discuss several unusual dynamical behaviors of STNO caused by their strong nonlinearity.

The effect of electrospun nanofibers alignment on the synthesis of one-dimensional silicon carbide nanostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hooshyar, Ali; Kokabi, Mehrdad

2018-01-01

One-dimensional silicon carbide (1D SiC) nanostructure has shown unusual properties such as extremely high strength, good flexibility, fracture toughness, wide band gap ( 3.2eV), large breakdown electric field strength (>2 MV cm-1, 10 times that of silicon), and inverse Hall-Petch effect. Because of these advantages, 1D SiC nanomaterial has gained extensive attention on the wide range of applications in microelectronics, optoelectronics, nanocomposites, and catalyst supports. Many methods have been used for the synthesis of 1D SiC nanostructures such as chemical vapor deposition, carbon nanotube-confined reaction, laser ablation, high-frequency induction heating, and arc discharge. However, these methods have also some shortcomings such as using catalyst, high-cost, low yield, irregular geometry and impurity. In this work, electrospinning was used to prepare aligned PVA/SiO2 composite nanofibers and the effect of fiber alignment on the production efficiency and quality of 1D SiC nanostructure was investigated. For this purpose, aligned electrospun nanofibers, as the desirable precursor, were put in a tube furnace and heated up to 1250°C under a controlled program in an inert atmosphere. Finally, the grown 1D SiC nanostructure product was characterized using SEM, XRD, and FTIR. The results confirmed the successful synthesis of pure crystalline1D β-SiC nanostructure with high yield, more regular, and metal catalyst-free.

A bright lensed galaxy at z = 5.4 with strong Lyα emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGreer, Ian D.; Clément, Benjamin; Mainali, Ramesh; Stark, Daniel P.; Gronke, Max; Dijkstra, Mark; Fan, Xiaohui; Bian, Fuyan; Frye, Brenda; Jiang, Linhua; Kneib, Jean-Paul; Limousin, Marceau; Walth, Gregory

2018-05-01

We present a detailed study of a unusually bright, lensed galaxy at z = 5.424 discovered within the CFHTLS imaging survey. With an observed flux of iAB = 23.0, J141446.82+544631.9 is one of the brightest galaxies known at z > 5. It is characterized by strong Lyα emission, reaching a peak in (observed) flux density of >10-16 erg s-1 cm-2 Å-1. A deep optical spectrum from the LBT places strong constraints on N V and C IV emission, disfavouring an AGN source for the emission. However, a detection of the N IV] λ1486 emission line indicates a hard ionizing continuum, possibly from hot, massive stars. Resolved imaging from HST deblends the galaxy from a foreground interloper; these observations include narrowband imaging of the Lyα emission, which is marginally resolved on ˜few kpc scales and has EW0 ˜ 260Å. The Lyα emission extends over ˜2000 km s-1 and is broadly consistent with expanding shell models. SED fitting that includes Spitzer/IRAC photometry suggests a complex star formation history that include both a recent burst and an evolved population. J1414+5446 lies 30″ from the centre of a known lensing cluster in the CFHTLS; combined with the foreground contribution this leads to a highly uncertain estimate for the lensing magnification in the range 5 ≲ μ ≲ 25. Because of its unusual brightness J1414+5446 affords unique opportunities for detailed study of an individual galaxy near the epoch of reionization and a preview of what can be expected from upcoming wide-area surveys that will yield hundreds of similar objects.

Immunofluorescence reveals unusual patterns of labelling for connexin43 localized to calbindin-D28K-positive interstitial cells in the pineal gland.

PubMed

Tsao, D D; Wang, S G; Lynn, B D; Nagy, J I

2017-06-01

Gap junctions between cells in the pineal gland have been described ultrastructurally, but their connexin constituents have not been fully characterized. We used immunofluorescence in combination with markers of pineal cells to document the cellular localization of connexin43 (Cx43). Immunofluorescence labelling of Cx43 with several different antibodies was widely distributed throughout the pineal, whereas another connexin examined, connexin26, was not found in pineal but only in surrounding leptomeninges. Labelling apparently associated with plasma membranes was visualized either as fine Cx43-puncta (1-2 μm) or as unusually large pools of Cx43 ranging up to 4-7 μm in diameter or length. These puncta and pools were highly concentrated in perivascular spaces, where they were associated with numerous cells devoid of labelling for markers of pinealocytes (e.g. tryptophan hydroxylase and serotonin), and where they were minimally associated with blood vessels and lacked association with resident macrophages. Astrocytes labelled for glial fibrillary acidic protein were largely restricted to the anterior pole of the pineal gland, where they displayed only fine and sparse Cx43-puncta along their processes. Labelling for Cx43 was localized largely though not exclusively to the somata and long processes of a subpopulation of perivascular interstitial cells that were immunopositive for calbindin-D28K. These cells were often located among dense bundles or termination areas of sympathetic fibres labelled for tyrosine hydroxylase or serotonin. The results indicate that interstitial cells form abundant gap junctions composed of Cx43, and suggest that gap junction-mediated intracellular communication by these cells supports the activities of pinealocytes. © 2017 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Stability of Resonant Chains of Moons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rimlinger, Thomas; Hamilton, Douglas

2018-04-01

Unlike other giant planets, Saturn has a satellite system that is dominated by a single massive body, Titan, which features an unusually large inclination and eccentricity. Its origin has yet to be satisfactorily explained; neither in situ formation nor capture from heliocentric orbit can easily produce all of its measured properties. We argue that dynamical instability and subsequent mergers within a resonant chain of satellites analogous to the Galilean moons could be responsible for Titan’s unusual features.To explore this idea, we perform simulations in which we vary a wide range of parameters, including the number of satellites, their masses, their spacings, and their tidal migration and eccentricity damping rates. In our preliminary modeling, we initialize our simulations with three moons in the 1:2:4 mean-motion resonance (currently occupied by Io, Europa, and Ganymede at Jupiter) and study how varying each parameter affects the resonant stability. We find that in some cases, the satellites do indeed escape from this three-body resonance, while in others, the bodies’ period ratios remain locked. We study the evolution of these systems and seek a deeper understanding of the competing mechanisms responsible for resonant capture and escape.Accordingly, we investigate the role that specific two-body eccentricity and inclination resonances play in determining stability conditions. For three satellites in a 1:2:4 resonance, there exist four nearby first-order eccentricity resonances along with many other weaker eccentricity and inclination resonances. In our simulations, we track entrance into and exit from these resonances to provide a more cohesive picture of how the system evolves and find that this evolution depends sensitively on the masses and damping rates. We will report further details of our findings and will discuss their implications for the stability of resonant chains of moons.

Unusual continuous dual absorption peaks in Ca-doped BiFeO3 nanostructures for broadened microwave absorption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhong-Jun; Hou, Zhi-Ling; Song, Wei-Li; Liu, Xing-Da; Cao, Wen-Qiang; Shao, Xiao-Hong; Cao, Mao-Sheng

2016-05-01

Electromagnetic absorption materials have received increasing attention owing to their wide applications in aerospace, communication and the electronics industry, and multiferroic materials with both polarization and magnetic properties are considered promising ceramics for microwave absorption application. However, the insufficient absorption intensity coupled with the narrow effective absorption bandwidth has limited the development of high-performance multiferroic materials for practical microwave absorption. To address such issues, in the present work, we utilize interfacial engineering in BiFeO3 nanoparticles via Ca doping, with the purpose of tailoring the phase boundary. Upon Ca-substitution, the co-existence of both R3c and P4mm phases has been confirmed to massively enhance both dielectric and magnetic properties via manipulating the phase boundary and the destruction of the spiral spin structure. Unlike the commonly reported magnetic/dielectric hybrid microwave absorption composites, Bi0.95Ca0.05FeO3 has been found to deliver unusual continuous dual absorption peaks at a small thickness (1.56 mm), which has remarkably broadened the effective absorption bandwidth (8.7-12.1 GHz). The fundamental mechanisms based on the phase boundary engineering have been discussed, suggesting a novel platform for designing advanced multiferroic materials with wide applications.Electromagnetic absorption materials have received increasing attention owing to their wide applications in aerospace, communication and the electronics industry, and multiferroic materials with both polarization and magnetic properties are considered promising ceramics for microwave absorption application. However, the insufficient absorption intensity coupled with the narrow effective absorption bandwidth has limited the development of high-performance multiferroic materials for practical microwave absorption. To address such issues, in the present work, we utilize interfacial engineering in BiFeO3 nanoparticles via Ca doping, with the purpose of tailoring the phase boundary. Upon Ca-substitution, the co-existence of both R3c and P4mm phases has been confirmed to massively enhance both dielectric and magnetic properties via manipulating the phase boundary and the destruction of the spiral spin structure. Unlike the commonly reported magnetic/dielectric hybrid microwave absorption composites, Bi0.95Ca0.05FeO3 has been found to deliver unusual continuous dual absorption peaks at a small thickness (1.56 mm), which has remarkably broadened the effective absorption bandwidth (8.7-12.1 GHz). The fundamental mechanisms based on the phase boundary engineering have been discussed, suggesting a novel platform for designing advanced multiferroic materials with wide applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00223d

Rheological Characterization of Unusual DWPF Slurry Samples (U)

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

Koopman, D. C.

2005-09-01

A study was undertaken to identify and clarify examples of unusual rheological behavior in Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) simulant slurry samples. Identification was accomplished by reviewing sludge, Sludge Receipt and Adjustment Tank (SRAT) product, and Slurry Mix Evaporator (SME) product simulant rheological results from the prior year. Clarification of unusual rheological behavior was achieved by developing and implementing new measurement techniques. Development of these new methods is covered in a separate report, WSRC-TR-2004-00334. This report includes a review of recent literature on unusual rheological behavior, followed by a summary of the rheological measurement results obtained on a set ofmore » unusual simulant samples. Shifts in rheological behavior of slurries as the wt. % total solids changed have been observed in numerous systems. The main finding of the experimental work was that the various unusual DWPF simulant slurry samples exhibit some degree of time dependent behavior. When a given shear rate is applied to a sample, the apparent viscosity of the slurry changes with time rather than remaining constant. These unusual simulant samples are more rheologically complex than Newtonian liquids or more simple slurries, neither of which shows significant time dependence. The study concludes that the unusual rheological behavior that has been observed is being caused by time dependent rheological properties in the slurries being measured. Most of the changes are due to the effect of time under shear, but SB3 SME products were also changing properties while stored in sample bottles. The most likely source of this shear-related time dependence for sludge is in the simulant preparation. More than a single source of time dependence was inferred for the simulant SME product slurries based on the range of phenomena observed. Rheological property changes were observed on the time-scale of a single measurement (minutes) as well as on a time scale of hours to weeks. The unusual shape of the slurry flow curves was not an artifact of the rheometric measurement. Adjusting the user-specified parameters in the rheometer measurement jobs can alter the shape of the flow curve of these time dependent samples, but this was not causing the unusual behavior. Variations in the measurement parameters caused the time dependence of a given slurry to manifest at different rates. The premise of the controlled shear rate flow curve measurement is that the dynamic response of the sample to a change in shear rate is nearly instantaneous. When this is the case, the data can be fitted to a time independent rheological equation, such as the Bingham plastic model. In those cases where this does not happen, interpretation of the data is difficult. Fitting time dependent data to time independent rheological equations, such as the Bingham plastic model, is also not appropriate.« less

The ancient Britons: groundwater fauna survived extreme climate change over tens of millions of years across NW Europe.

PubMed

McInerney, Caitríona E; Maurice, Louise; Robertson, Anne L; Knight, Lee R F D; Arnscheidt, Jörg; Venditti, Chris; Dooley, James S G; Mathers, Thomas; Matthijs, Severine; Eriksson, Karin; Proudlove, Graham S; Hänfling, Bernd

2014-03-01

Global climate changes during the Cenozoic (65.5-0 Ma) caused major biological range shifts and extinctions. In northern Europe, for example, a pattern of few endemics and the dominance of wide-ranging species is thought to have been determined by the Pleistocene (2.59-0.01 Ma) glaciations. This study, in contrast, reveals an ancient subsurface fauna endemic to Britain and Ireland. Using a Bayesian phylogenetic approach, we found that two species of stygobitic invertebrates (genus Niphargus) have not only survived the entire Pleistocene in refugia but have persisted for at least 19.5 million years. Other Niphargus species form distinct cryptic taxa that diverged from their nearest continental relative between 5.6 and 1.0 Ma. The study also reveals an unusual biogeographical pattern in the Niphargus genus. It originated in north-west Europe approximately 87 Ma and underwent a gradual range expansion. Phylogenetic diversity and species age are highest in north-west Europe, suggesting resilience to extreme climate change and strongly contrasting the patterns seen in surface fauna. However, species diversity is highest in south-east Europe, indicating that once the genus spread to these areas (approximately 25 Ma), geomorphological and climatic conditions enabled much higher diversification. Our study highlights that groundwater ecosystems provide an important contribution to biodiversity and offers insight into the interactions between biological and climatic processes. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Has Sarcocystis neurona Dubey et al., 1991 (Sporozoa: Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) cospeciated with its intermediate hosts?

PubMed

Elsheikha, Hany M

2009-08-26

The question of how Sarcocystis neurona is able to overcome species barrier and adapt to new hosts is central to the understanding of both the evolutionary origin of S. neurona and the prediction of its field host range. Therefore, it is worth reviewing current knowledge on S. neurona host specificity. The available host range data for S. neurona are discussed in relation to a subject of evolutionary importance-specialist or generalist and its implications to understand the strategies of host adaptation. Current evidences demonstrate that a wide range of hosts exists for S. neurona. This parasite tends to be highly specific for its definitive host but much less so for its intermediate host (I.H.). The unique specificity of S. neurona for its definitive host may be mediated by a probable long coevolutionary relationship of the parasite and carnivores in a restricted ecological niche 'New World'. This might be taken as evidence that carnivores are the 'original' host group for S. neurona. Rather, the capacity of S. neurona to exploit an unusually large number of I.H. species probably indicates that S. neurona maintains non-specificity to its I.H. as an adaptive response to insure the survival of the parasite in areas in which the 'preferred' host is not available. This review concludes with the view that adaptation of S. neurona to a new host is a complex interplay that involves a large number of determinants.

Effects of subsidized predators, resource variability, and human population density on desert tortoise populations in the Mojave Desert, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Esque, Todd C.; Nussear, Kenneth E.; Drake, K. Kristina; Walde, Andrew D.; Berry, Kristin H.; Averill-Murray, Roy C.; Woodman, A. Peter; Boarman, William I.; Medica, Phil A.; Mack, Jeremy S.; Heaton, Jill S.

2010-01-01

Understanding predator–prey relationships can be pivotal in the conservation of species. For 2 decades, desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii populations have declined, yet quantitative evidence regarding the causes of declines is scarce. In 2005, Ft. Irwin National Training Center, California, USA, implemented a translocation project including 2 yr of baseline monitoring of desert tortoises. Unusually high predation on tortoises was observed after translocation occurred. We conducted a retrospective analysis of predation and found that translocation did not affect the probability of predation: translocated, resident, and control tortoises all had similar levels of predation. However, predation rates were higher near human population concentrations, at lower elevation sites, and for smaller tortoises and females. Furthermore, high mortality rates were not limited to the National Training Center. In 2008, elevated mortality (as high as 43%) occurred throughout the listed range of the desert tortoise. Although no temporal prey base data are available for analysis from any of the study sites, we hypothesize that low population levels of typical coyote Canis latrans prey (i.e. jackrabbits Lepus californicus and other small animals) due to drought conditions influenced high predation rates in previous years. Predation may have been exacerbated in areas with high levels of subsidized predators. Many historical reports of increased predation, and our observation of a range-wide pattern, may indicate that high predation rates are more common than generally considered and may impact recovery of the desert tortoise throughout its range.

Chemotaxonomic differentiation of legionellae by detection and characterization of aminodideoxyhexoses and other unique sugars using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

PubMed Central

Fox, A; Rogers, J C; Fox, K F; Schnitzer, G; Morgan, S L; Brown, A; Aono, R

1990-01-01

Legionellae have been differentiated previously by analyzing their carbohydrate contents by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. In the present study, total ion mode gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to detect a number of unusual sugars, including one that is structurally related to O-methyldideoxyheptoses. Increased sensitivity and selectivity for carbohydrate detection was achieved by selected ion-monitoring GC-MS. Two of the uncommon sugars previously discovered in the legionellae (X1 and X2) were identified as quinovosamine and fucosamine, respectively. Legionella pneumophila contained rhamnose and quinovosamine but not the quinovosamine isomer fucosamine. Tatlockia micdadei and Legionella maceachernii contained large amounts of rhamnose, fucose, and fucosamine but not quinovosamine. These two species were the only legionellae studied that contained another unusual sugar that is referred to as X3, pending determination of its structure. Fluoribacter dumoffi, Fluoribacter bozemanae, and Legionella anisa were varied in their carbohydrate contents, both within and between species, but could be distinguished from L. pneumophila and the T. micdadei and L. maceachernii group. Fluoribacter gormanii was unique among the legionellae in that it lacked both quinovosamine and fucosamine. Legionella jordanis contained other unusual carbohydrates in addition to quinovosamine. GC-MS may have wide application in the differentiation of bacterial species. PMID:2324276

Are Antarctic minke whales unusually abundant because of 20th century whaling?

PubMed

Ruegg, Kristen C; Anderson, Eric C; Scott Baker, C; Vant, Murdoch; Jackson, Jennifer A; Palumbi, Stephen R

2010-01-01

Severe declines in megafauna worldwide illuminate the role of top predators in ecosystem structure. In the Antarctic, the Krill Surplus Hypothesis posits that the killing of more than 2 million large whales led to competitive release for smaller krill-eating species like the Antarctic minke whale. If true, the current size of the Antarctic minke whale population may be unusually high as an indirect result of whaling. Here, we estimate the long-term population size of the Antarctic minke whale prior to whaling by sequencing 11 nuclear genetic markers from 52 modern samples purchased in Japanese meat markets. We use coalescent simulations to explore the potential influence of population substructure and find that even though our samples are drawn from a limited geographic area, our estimate reflects ocean-wide genetic diversity. Using Bayesian estimates of the mutation rate and coalescent-based analyses of genetic diversity across loci, we calculate the long-term population size of the Antarctic minke whale to be 670,000 individuals (95% confidence interval: 374,000-1,150,000). Our estimate of long-term abundance is similar to, or greater than, contemporary abundance estimates, suggesting that managing Antarctic ecosystems under the assumption that Antarctic minke whales are unusually abundant is not warranted.

Fat tissue is not a reservoir for radiocesium in wild boars.

PubMed

Steinhauser, Georg; Knecht, Christian; Sipos, Wolfgang

2017-01-01

Meat of wild boars is not only known for high 137 Cs activity concentrations but also for the remarkable constancy of these levels. Even decades after the Chernobyl accident, the 137 Cs levels in wild boar meat in Central Europe have not declined but even partly increased. In the present study, we investigated an unusual hypothesis for this very unusual phenomenon: may the boars' fat tissue act as a reservoir for radiocesium? We investigated fat and muscle tissues of four wild boars in Western Germany and found that the 137 Cs concentrations in fat were in the range of 10-30% of the respective activities in muscle tissue. Hence, the hypothesis was refuted.

Myxomatosis on the Western Plains of Victoria.

PubMed Central

Tighe, F. G.; Edmonds, J. W.; Nolan, I. F.; Shepherd, R. C.; Gocs, A.

1977-01-01

Myxomatosis on the Western Plains is an enzootic disease in contrast with the epizootic pattern which is general in eastern Australia. The most unusual aspects are the presence of significant numbers of diseased rabbits throughout the winter and the continuously low percentage of rabbits with antibodies to myxoma virus. Climatic and topographic conditions are unsuited to the production of the high densities of mosquitoes necessary for widespread epizootics. Under these conditions the effects of less efficient methods of myxomatosis transmission are apparent. The unusual epidemiology of myxomatosis has resulted in selection for virulence of the virus similar to that which has occurred under summer epizootic conditions. All field strains are now in the mid range of virulence. PMID:20473

Myxomatosis on the Western Plains of Victoria.

PubMed

Tighe, F G; Edmonds, J W; Nolan, I F; Shepherd, R C; Gocs, A

1977-10-01

Myxomatosis on the Western Plains is an enzootic disease in contrast with the epizootic pattern which is general in eastern Australia. The most unusual aspects are the presence of significant numbers of diseased rabbits throughout the winter and the continuously low percentage of rabbits with antibodies to myxoma virus. Climatic and topographic conditions are unsuited to the production of the high densities of mosquitoes necessary for widespread epizootics. Under these conditions the effects of less efficient methods of myxomatosis transmission are apparent. The unusual epidemiology of myxomatosis has resulted in selection for virulence of the virus similar to that which has occurred under summer epizootic conditions. All field strains are now in the mid range of virulence.

Unusual amnesia in a patient with VGKC-Ab limbic encephalitis: a case study.

PubMed

Kartsounis, Luke D; de Silva, Rajith

2011-04-01

We describe the case of a patient with confirmed voltage-gated potassium channel antibody-associated encephalitis (VGKC-Ab). MRI studies revealed bilateral hyper-intensity in the hippocampi, with their volumes preserved. At presentation, the patient's anterograde and retrograde memory skills were found to be impaired and he showed fluctuation in his ability to recall familiar information. Following treatment with immunotherapy, his condition improved considerably and, in a series of follow up assessments, he performed satisfactorily (i.e., within the average range or above) on formal tests of memory, as well as on a range of other cognitive tests, including tests of executive function. By contrast, in the context of contemporaneous unstructured interviews, he showed a strong tendency to confabulate. We argue that the reported case broadens the phenomenology of VGKC-Ab limbic encephalitis and raises important theoretical questions about the aetiology of this patient's most unusual memory disorder. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Srl. All rights reserved.

Geographical Cues and Developmental Exposure: Navigational Style, Wayfinding Anxiety, and Childhood Experience in the Faroe Islands.

PubMed

Schug, Mariah G

2016-03-01

The current study assessed potential relationships among childhood wayfinding experience, navigational style, and adult wayfinding anxiety in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands are of interest because they have an unusual geography that may promote the use of an orientational style of navigation (e.g., use of cardinal directions). Faroese adults completed questionnaires assessing (1) their permitted childhood range sizes, (2) the types of navigational strategies they use, and (3) the amount of anxiety they experience when navigating in adulthood. Males had more childhood wayfinding experience, used the orientation strategy at a higher rate, and showed lower levels of wayfinding anxiety. When compared with other cultures, both Faroese women and men appear to embrace orientation strategies at an unusually high rate. Childhood experience was not conclusively linked to later wayfinding anxiety. However, the current findings raise the possibility that children who have particularly small ranges in childhood may be especially anxious when navigating in adulthood.

New Gold Nanostructures for Sensor Applications: A Review

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yuanchao; Chu, Wendy; Foroushani, Alireza Dibaji; Wang, Hongbin; Li, Da; Liu, Jingquan; Barrow, Colin J.; Wang, Xin; Yang, Wenrong

2014-01-01

Gold based structures such as nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowires (NWs) have widely been used as building blocks for sensing devices in chemistry and biochemistry fields because of their unusual optical, electrical and mechanical properties. This article gives a detailed review of the new properties and fabrication methods for gold nanostructures, especially gold nanowires (GNWs), and recent developments for their use in optical and electrochemical sensing tools, such as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). PMID:28788124

HBT correlations and charge ratios in multiple production of pions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bialas, A.; Zalewski, K.

1999-01-01

The influence of the HTB effect on the multiplicity distribution and charge ratios of independently produced pions is studied. It is shown that, for a wide class of models, there is a critical point, where the average number of pions becomes very large and the multiplicity distribution becomes very broad. In this regime unusual charge ratios (“centauros”, “anticentauros”) are strongly enhanced. The prospects for reaching this regime are discussed.

Unusual manifestations of ectodermal dysplasia-syndactyly syndrome type I in two Yemeni siblings.

PubMed

Mohammad, Alshami

2015-01-15

Ectodermal dysplasias (EDs) are a group of genodermatoses characterized by malformations of tissues derived from the ectoderm, including the skin, its appendages (hair, nails, sweat glands), teeth, and the breasts. Ectodermal dysplasia syndactyly syndrome (EDSS) is a rare, newly described type of ED involving syndactyly. We report 2 Yemeni siblings with typical EDSS manifestations, including bilateral, partial cutaneous syndactyly of the fingers and toes; sparse, coarse, brittle scalp hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes; and conical, widely spaced teeth with enamel notches. In addition, the siblings presented with other features hitherto not described for this syndrome, such as adermatoglyphia, onychogryphosis, hypoplastic widely spaced nipples, hypoplastic thumbs, and red scalp hair.

Gorlin-Goltz syndrome in twin brothers: an unusual occurrence with review of the literature.

PubMed

Anchlia, Sonal; Vyas, Siddharth; Bahl, Sumit; Nagavadiya, Vipul

2015-08-21

Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, also known as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is caused by genetic alteration produced by a mutation in the 'patched' tumour suppressor gene, and is inherited in a dominant autosomal way. Although sporadic cases have been found, this syndrome has rarely been reported in twin patients. The syndrome is characterised by a wide range of developmental abnormalities and has a predisposition to neoplasms such as multiple pigmented basal cell carcinomas and keratocysts in jaws; it also has other features such as palmar and/or plantar pits and calcification of falx cerebri. Owing to the critical oral and maxillofacial manifestations of this syndrome, it is important to recognise its characteristics in order to make a diagnosis, and to plot early preventive treatment and establish the right genetic evidence. Based on a combination of imaging, clinical and histopathological findings, we present a diagnosed case of Gorlin-Goltz syndrome in 18-year-old twin brothers. All cystic lesions were enucleated and 1 year follow-up showed no recurrence. 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Gorlin-Goltz syndrome in twin brothers: an unusual occurrence with review of the literature

PubMed Central

Anchlia, Sonal; Vyas, Siddharth; Bahl, Sumit; Nagavadiya, Vipul

2015-01-01

Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, also known as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is caused by genetic alteration produced by a mutation in the ‘patched’ tumour suppressor gene, and is inherited in a dominant autosomal way. Although sporadic cases have been found, this syndrome has rarely been reported in twin patients. The syndrome is characterised by a wide range of developmental abnormalities and has a predisposition to neoplasms such as multiple pigmented basal cell carcinomas and keratocysts in jaws; it also has other features such as palmar and/or plantar pits and calcification of falx cerebri. Owing to the critical oral and maxillofacial manifestations of this syndrome, it is important to recognise its characteristics in order to make a diagnosis, and to plot early preventive treatment and establish the right genetic evidence. Based on a combination of imaging, clinical and histopathological findings, we present a diagnosed case of Gorlin-Goltz syndrome in 18-year-old twin brothers. All cystic lesions were enucleated and 1 year follow-up showed no recurrence. PMID:26297769

Forecasting for a Remote Island: A Class Exercise.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riordan, Allen J.

2003-06-01

Students enrolled in a satellite meteorology course at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, recently had an unusual opportunity to apply their forecast skills to predict wind and weather conditions for a remote site in the Southern Hemisphere. For about 40 days starting in early February 2001, students used satellite and model guidance to develop forecasts to support a research team stationed on Bouvet Island (54°26S, 3°24E). Internet products together with current output from NCEP's Aviation (AVN) model supported the activity. Wind forecasts were of particular interest to the Bouvet team because violent winds often developed unexpectedly and posed a safety hazard.Results were encouraging in that 24-h wind speed forecasts showed reasonable reliability over a wide range of wind speeds. Forecasts for 48 h showed only marginal skill, however. Two critical events were well forecasted-the major February storm with wind speeds of over 120 kt and a brief calm period following several days of strong winds in early March. The latter forecast proved instrumental in recovering the research team.

Lost at sea: genetic, oceanographic and meteorological evidence for storm-forced dispersal.

PubMed

Monzón-Argüello, C; Dell'Amico, F; Morinière, P; Marco, A; López-Jurado, L F; Hays, Graeme C; Scott, Rebecca; Marsh, Robert; Lee, Patricia L M

2012-08-07

For many species, there is broad-scale dispersal of juvenile stages and/or long-distance migration of individuals and hence the processes that drive these various wide-ranging movements have important life-history consequences. Sea turtles are one of these paradigmatic long-distance travellers, with hatchlings thought to be dispersed by ocean currents and adults often shuttling between distant breeding and foraging grounds. Here, we use multi-disciplinary oceanographic, atmospheric and genetic mixed stock analyses to show that juvenile turtles are encountered 'downstream' at sites predicted by currents. However, in some cases, unusual occurrences of juveniles are more readily explained by storm events and we show that juvenile turtles may be displaced thousands of kilometres from their expected dispersal based on prevailing ocean currents. As such, storms may be a route by which unexpected areas are encountered by juveniles which may in turn shape adult migrations. Increased stormy weather predicted under climate change scenarios suggests an increasing role of storms in dispersal of sea turtles and other marine groups with life-stages near the ocean surface.

ipso-Hydroxylation and Subsequent Fragmentation: a Novel Microbial Strategy To Eliminate Sulfonamide Antibiotics

PubMed Central

Ricken, Benjamin; Cichocka, Danuta; Parisi, Martina; Lenz, Markus; Wyss, Dominik; Martínez-Lavanchy, Paula M.; Müller, Jochen A.; Shahgaldian, Patrick; Tulli, Ludovico G.; Kohler, Hans-Peter E.; Kolvenbach, Boris A.

2013-01-01

Sulfonamide antibiotics have a wide application range in human and veterinary medicine. Because they tend to persist in the environment, they pose potential problems with regard to the propagation of antibiotic resistance. Here, we identified metabolites formed during the degradation of sulfamethoxazole and other sulfonamides in Microbacterium sp. strain BR1. Our experiments showed that the degradation proceeded along an unusual pathway initiated by ipso-hydroxylation with subsequent fragmentation of the parent compound. The NADH-dependent hydroxylation of the carbon atom attached to the sulfonyl group resulted in the release of sulfite, 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole, and benzoquinone-imine. The latter was concomitantly transformed to 4-aminophenol. Sulfadiazine, sulfamethizole, sulfamethazine, sulfadimethoxine, 4-amino-N-phenylbenzenesulfonamide, and N-(4-aminophenyl)sulfonylcarbamic acid methyl ester (asulam) were transformed accordingly. Therefore, ipso-hydroxylation with subsequent fragmentation must be considered the underlying mechanism; this could also occur in the same or in a similar way in other studies, where biotransformation of sulfonamides bearing an amino group in the para-position to the sulfonyl substituent was observed to yield products corresponding to the stable metabolites observed by us. PMID:23835177

Shifting from clonal to sexual reproduction in aphids: physiological and developmental aspects.

PubMed

Le Trionnaire, Gaël; Hardie, Jim; Jaubert-Possamai, Stéphanie; Simon, Jean-Christophe; Tagu, Denis

2008-08-01

Developmental biology is one of the fastest growing and fascinating research fields in life sciences. Among the wide range of embryonic development, a fundamental difference exists between organisms with sexual or asexual development. Aphids are unusual organisms which display alternative pathways of sexual and asexual development, the orientation of the pathway being determined by environmental conditions. These insects offer an adapted system in which to study developmental plasticity, because a side-by-side comparison of sexual and asexual development can be made in individuals with the same genotype. In this review, we describe the developmental mechanisms that have evolved in aphids for alternative sexual and asexual reproduction. In particular, we discuss how environmental cues orientate the reproductive mode of aphids from signal perception to endocrine regulation, and propose a comparative analysis of sexual and asexual gametogenesis and embryogenesis, which has been possible due to the development of molecular methods. As a result of the recent development of genomic resources in aphids, we expect these species will permit major advances in the study of the genomic basis underlying the choice of developmental fate and multiple reproduction strategies.

How baculovirus polyhedra fit square pegs into round holes to robustly package viruses

PubMed Central

Ji, Xiaoyun; Sutton, Geoff; Evans, Gwyndaf; Axford, Danny; Owen, Robin; Stuart, David I

2010-01-01

Natural protein crystals (polyhedra) armour certain viruses, allowing them to survive for years under hostile conditions. We have determined the structure of polyhedra of the baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), revealing a highly symmetrical covalently cross-braced robust lattice, the subunits of which possess a flexible adaptor enabling this supra-molecular assembly to specifically entrap massive baculoviruses. Inter-subunit chemical switches modulate the controlled release of virus particles in the unusual high pH environment of the target insect's gut. Surprisingly, the polyhedrin subunits are more similar to picornavirus coat proteins than to the polyhedrin of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV). It is, therefore, remarkable that both AcMNPV and CPV polyhedra possess identical crystal lattices and crystal symmetry. This crystalline arrangement must be particularly well suited to the functional requirements of the polyhedra and has been either preserved or re-selected during evolution. The use of flexible adaptors to generate a powerful system for packaging irregular particles is characteristic of the AcMNPV polyhedrin and may provide a vehicle to sequester a wide range of objects such as biological nano-particles. PMID:19959989

Pressure Induced Phase Transformations of Silica Polymorphs and Glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cagin, Tahir; Demiralp, Ersan; Goddard, William A., III

1998-03-01

Silica, SiO_2, is one of the most widely studied substance, and it has some complex and unusual properties. We have used a recently developed 2-body interaction force field (E. Demiralp, T. Cagin, W.A. Goddard, III, unpublished.) to study the structural phase transformations in silica under various pressure loading conditions. The specific transformations we studied are α-quartz to stishovite, coesite to stishovite and fused glass to stishovite-like dense, a dominantly six-coordinated glassy phase. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed under the constant loading rates ranging from 0.1 GPa/ps to 2.0 GPa/ps, pressures upto 100 GPa and at temperatures 300, 500, 700 and 900 K. We observe the crystal to crystal transformations to occur reconstructively, whereas it occurs in a smooth and displacive manner from glass to a stishovite-like phase confirming earlier conjectures. (E.M. Stolper and T.J. Ahrens, Geophys. Res. Let.) 14, 1231 (1987). To elucidate the shock loading experiments, we studied the dependence of transition pressure on the loading rate and the temperature. To assess the hysterisis effect we also studied the unloading behavior of each transformation.

Tunable geometry of bacterial inclusion bodies as substrate materials for tissue engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-Fruitós, Elena; Seras-Franzoso, Joaquín; Vazquez, Esther; Villaverde, Antonio

2010-05-01

A spectrum of materials for biomedical applications is produced in bacteria, and some of them, such as metals or polyhydroxyalkanoates, are straightforwardly obtained as particulate entities. We have explored the biofabrication process of bacterial inclusion bodies, particulate proteinaceous materials (ranging from 50 to 500 nm in diameter) recently recognized as suitable for surface topographical modification and tissue engineering. Inclusion bodies have been widely described as spherical or pseudo-spherical particles with only minor morphological variability, mostly restricted to their size. Here we have identified a cellular gene in Escherichia coli (clpP) that controls the in vivo fabrication process of inclusion bodies. In the absence of the encoded protease, the dynamics of protein deposition is perturbed, resulting in unusual tear-shaped particles with enhanced surface-volume ratios. This fact modifies the ability of inclusion bodies to promote mammalian cell attachment and differentiation upon surface decoration. The implications of the genetic control of inclusion body geometry are discussed in the context of their biological fabrication and regarding the biomedical potential of these protein clusters in regenerative medicine.

Lost at sea: genetic, oceanographic and meteorological evidence for storm-forced dispersal

PubMed Central

Monzón-Argüello, C.; Dell'Amico, F.; Morinière, P.; Marco, A.; López-Jurado, L. F.; Hays, Graeme C.; Scott, Rebecca; Marsh, Robert; Lee, Patricia L. M.

2012-01-01

For many species, there is broad-scale dispersal of juvenile stages and/or long-distance migration of individuals and hence the processes that drive these various wide-ranging movements have important life-history consequences. Sea turtles are one of these paradigmatic long-distance travellers, with hatchlings thought to be dispersed by ocean currents and adults often shuttling between distant breeding and foraging grounds. Here, we use multi-disciplinary oceanographic, atmospheric and genetic mixed stock analyses to show that juvenile turtles are encountered ‘downstream’ at sites predicted by currents. However, in some cases, unusual occurrences of juveniles are more readily explained by storm events and we show that juvenile turtles may be displaced thousands of kilometres from their expected dispersal based on prevailing ocean currents. As such, storms may be a route by which unexpected areas are encountered by juveniles which may in turn shape adult migrations. Increased stormy weather predicted under climate change scenarios suggests an increasing role of storms in dispersal of sea turtles and other marine groups with life-stages near the ocean surface. PMID:22319111

A Mycobacterium Strain with Extended Capacities for Degradation of Gasoline Hydrocarbons

PubMed Central

Solano-Serena, Floriane; Marchal, Rémy; Casarégola, Serge; Vasnier, Christelle; Lebeault, Jean-Michel; Vandecasteele, Jean-Paul

2000-01-01

A bacterial strain (strain IFP 2173) was selected from a gasoline-polluted aquifer on the basis of its capacity to use 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (isooctane) as a sole carbon and energy source. This isolate, the first isolate with this capacity to be characterized, was identified by 16S ribosomal DNA analysis, and 100% sequence identity with a reference strain of Mycobacterium austroafricanum was found. Mycobacterium sp. strain IFP 2173 used an unusually wide spectrum of hydrocarbons as growth substrates, including n-alkanes and multimethyl-substituted isoalkanes with chains ranging from 5 to 16 carbon atoms long, as well as substituted monoaromatic hydrocarbons. It also attacked ethers, such as methyl t-butyl ether. During growth on gasoline, it degraded 86% of the substrate. Our results indicated that strain IFP 2173 was capable of degrading 3-methyl groups, possibly by a carboxylation and deacetylation mechanism. Evidence that it attacked the quaternary carbon atom structure by an as-yet-undefined mechanism during growth on 2,2,4-trimethylpentane and 2,2-dimethylpentane was also obtained. PMID:10831416

Massive intoxication involving unusual high concentration of amitriptyline.

PubMed

Margalho, Cláudia; Barroso, Mário; Gallardo, Eugenia; Monsanto, Paula; Vieira, Duarte Nuno

2007-08-01

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant widely used in the treatment of depression. Antidepressant drugs are among the most commonly encountered causes of self-poisoning, as illustrated by several published cases in the literature. This investigation reports a case of massive amitriptyline intoxication, involving a 44-year old female found dead in bed. The presence of this tricyclic antidepressant was revealed by a routine screening procedure. The concentration was calculated by gas chromatography/ electron ionization-mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode after solid-phase extraction using proadifen as internal standard and was in the post-mortem whole blood sample 85.9 mug/mL. This value was much higher than the reported toxic values ever found in the literature, and may therefore have caused the victim's death. Nortriptyline was also detected in the toxic concentration range, as well as therapeutic levels of diazepam and nor-diazepam. Taking into account both the available circumstantial information and toxicological results, it is very likely that death was caused by self-poisoning. Human & Experimental Toxicology (2007) 26, 667-670.

Dense crystalline packings of ellipsoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Weiwei; Jiao, Yang; Liu, Lufeng; Yuan, Ye; Li, Shuixiang

2017-03-01

An ellipsoid, the simplest nonspherical shape, has been extensively used as a model for elongated building blocks for a wide spectrum of molecular, colloidal, and granular systems. Yet the densest packing of congruent hard ellipsoids, which is intimately related to the high-density phase of many condensed matter systems, is still an open problem. We discover an unusual family of dense crystalline packings of self-dual ellipsoids (ratios of the semiaxes α : √{α }:1 ), containing 24 particles with a quasi-square-triangular (SQ-TR) tiling arrangement in the fundamental cell. The associated packing density ϕ exceeds that of the densest known SM2 crystal [ A. Donev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 255506 (2004), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.255506] for aspect ratios α in (1.365, 1.5625), attaining a maximal ϕ ≈0.758 06 ... at α = 93 /64 . We show that the SQ-TR phase derived from these dense packings is thermodynamically stable at high densities over the aforementioned α range and report a phase diagram for self-dual ellipsoids. The discovery of the SQ-TR crystal suggests organizing principles for nonspherical particles and self-assembly of colloidal systems.

Ground state, collective mode, phase soliton and vortex in multiband superconductors.

PubMed

Lin, Shi-Zeng

2014-12-10

This article reviews theoretical and experimental work on the novel physics in multiband superconductors. Multiband superconductors are characterized by multiple superconducting energy gaps in different bands with interaction between Cooper pairs in these bands. The discovery of prominent multiband superconductors MgB2 and later iron-based superconductors, has triggered enormous interest in multiband superconductors. The most recently discovered superconductors exhibit multiband features. The multiband superconductors possess novel properties that are not shared with their single-band counterpart. Examples include: the time-reversal symmetry broken state in multiband superconductors with frustrated interband couplings; the collective oscillation of number of Cooper pairs between different bands, known as the Leggett mode; and the phase soliton and fractional vortex, which are the main focus of this review. This review presents a survey of a wide range of theoretical exploratory and experimental investigations of novel physics in multiband superconductors. A vast amount of information derived from these studies is shown to highlight unusual and unique properties of multiband superconductors and to reveal the challenges and opportunities in the research on the multiband superconductivity.

Strong room-temperature ultraviolet to red excitons from inorganic organic-layered perovskites, (MX4 (M=Pb, Sn, Hg; X=I-, Br-)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Shahab; Prakash, G. Vijaya

2014-01-01

Many varieties of layered inorganic-organic (IO) perovskite of type (MX4 (where R: organic moiety, M: divalent metal, and X: halogen) were successfully fabricated and characterized. X-ray diffraction data suggest that these inorganic and organic structures are alternatively stacked up along c-axis, where inorganic mono layers are of extended corner-shared MX6 octahedra and organic spacers are the bi-layers of organic entities. These layered perovskites show unusual room-temperature exciton absorption and photoluminescence due to the quantum and dielectric confinement-induced enhancement in the exciton binding energies. A wide spectral range of optical exciton tunability (350 to 600 nm) was observed experimentally from systematic compositional variation in (i) divalent metal ions (M=Pb, Sn, Hg), (ii) halides (X=I and Br-), and (iii) organic moieties (R). Specific photoluminescence features are due to the structure of the extended MX42- network and the eventual electronic band structure. The compositionally dependent photoluminescence of these IO hybrids could be useful in various photonic and optoelectronic devices.

Multipotential osteosarcoma with various mesenchymal differentiations in a young dog.

PubMed

Hoenerhoff, M J; Kiupel, M; Rosenstein, D; Pool, R R

2004-05-01

Apparently synchronous, aggressive, mixed mesenchymal tumors in the right tibia, right femur, left femur, and rib cage produced multiple microscopic metastases in the lungs and macroscopic metastases in the liver, kidney, and spleen in a 1.5-year-old, neutered male, mixed-breed dog. No primary soft tissue tumor mass was present. Microscopically, the neoplasm exhibited osteosarcomatous, chondrosarcomatous, liposarcomatous, leiomyosarcomatous, fibrosarcomatous, angiosarcomatous, and leukocytic differentiation and was diagnosed as a multipotential osteosarcoma with various mesenchymal differentiation. Immunohistochemically, the neoplasm was cytoplasmically immunoreactive for vimentin, osteonectin, osteocalcin, CD 18, CD 31, desmin, and muscle-specific actin. Oil Red O staining was positive within liposarcomatous areas. Skeletal metastases from a primary bone tumor are exceedingly rare in human and veterinary medicine. However, the history, clinical signs, location, microscopic and immunohistochemical features were similar to those described in aggressive, poorly differentiated osteosarcomas of children. In addition, the wide range of mesenchymal tissue differentiation of this neoplasm was unusual, and to the authors' knowledge, an osteosarcoma with this degree of multiple differentiation has not been previously reported in the dog.

The crystallization of tough thermoplastic resins in the presence of carbon fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Theil, Michael H.

1988-01-01

The presence of carbon fibers increased the crystallization rates of both PEEK and PPS thermoplastic polymers. The effect was most pronounced at higher crystallization temperatures. Isothermal crystallization rates were analyzed by applying classical phenomenological nucleation theory. Unusually high values of the so-called Avrami exponent were found for neat PEEK. Isothermal crystallization of PEEK and PPS polymers produced crystalline samples having a wide variety of melting temperatures. The melting as observed by differential scanning calorimetry occurred as dual endotherms which were called primary (higher temperature) and secondary melting peaks. Each primary peak accounted for most of the crystallinity present. The secondary peaks represented the melting of crystallites formed later than those attributable to the primary endotherms. The presence of carbon fibers increased the thermal stability of both PEEK and PPS crystallites as manifested by higher temperatures for the primary melting peaks. This may be attributable to increased crystallite size, greater crystallite perfection, and/or favorable modification of the crystallite interface. Over the range studied, crystallization temperature strongly influenced the positions of the secondary peaks but not the primary peaks.

Artery of Percheron: an unusual stroke presentation.

PubMed

Pitts-Tucker, Toby; Small, Jeremy

2018-03-28

An 86-year-old woman was admitted with multiple episodes of transient loss of consciousness. She was initially treated for seizures, and stroke was not considered likely. MRI on the same day of admission showed acute bilateral medial thalamic infarcts in keeping with the Artery of Percheron (AOP) territory infarcts. Investigation for polycythaemia and thrombocytosis showed JAK2 positive myeloproliferative neoplasm.A diagnosis of AOP infarction is often missed or delayed because it is rare and presents with variable neurological symptoms. Initial imaging in the form of CT is often negative, and some report that initial MRI findings may also be normal.An awareness of a wide range of differential diagnoses alongside a multi-modality imaging approach is required to reach a diagnosis.Although there are several other case reports of AOP infarction in the literature, this is the first to present with transient symptoms initially mistaken for seizure activity. © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Understanding conductivity anomalies in Cu(I)-based delafossite transparent conducting oxides: Theoretical insights.

PubMed

Scanlon, David O; Godinho, Kate G; Morgan, Benjamin J; Watson, Graeme W

2010-01-14

The Cu(I)-based delafossite structure, Cu(I)M(III)O(2), can accommodate a wide range of rare earth and transition metal cations on the M(III) site. Substitutional doping of divalent ions for these trivalent metals is known to produce higher p-type conductivity than that occurring in the undoped materials. However, an explanation of the conductivity anomalies observed in these p-type materials, as the trivalent metal is varied, is still lacking. In this article, we examine the electronic structure of Cu(I)M(III)O(2) (M(III)=Al,Cr,Sc,Y) using density functional theory corrected for on-site Coulomb interactions in strongly correlated systems (GGA+U) and discuss the unusual experimental trends. The importance of covalent interactions between the M(III) cation and oxygen for improving conductivity in the delafossite structure is highlighted, with the covalency trends found to perfectly match the conductivity trends. We also show that calculating the natural band offsets and the effective masses of the valence band maxima is not an ideal method to classify the conduction properties of these ternary materials.

Loading of mass spectrometry ion trap with Th ions by laser ablation for nuclear frequency standard application.

PubMed

Borisyuk, Petr V; Derevyashkin, Sergey P; Khabarova, Ksenia Y; Kolachevsky, Nikolay N; Lebedinsky, Yury Y; Poteshin, Sergey S; Sysoev, Alexey A; Tkalya, Evgeny V; Tregubov, Dmitry O; Troyan, Viktor I; Vasiliev, Oleg S; Yakovlev, Valery P; Yudin, Valery I

2017-08-01

We describe an original multisectional quadrupole ion trap aimed to realize nuclear frequency standard based on the unique isomer transition in thorium nucleus. It is shown that the system effectively operates on Th + , Th 2+ and Th 3+ ions produced by laser ablation of metallic thorium-232 target. Laser intensity used for ablation is about 6 GW/cm 2 . Via applying a bias potential to every control voltage including the RF one, we are able not only to manipulate ions within the energy range as wide as 1-500 eV but to specially adjust trap potentials in order to work mainly with ions that belong to energy distribution maximum and therefore to effectively enhance the number of trapped ions. Measurement of energy distributions of 232 Th + , 232 Th 2+ , 232 Th 3+ ions obtained by laser ablation allows us to define optimal potential values for trapping process. Observed number of ions inside trap in dependence on trapping time is found to obey an unusually slow - logarithmic decay law that needs more careful study.

Population genomics reveals a candidate gene involved in bumble bee pigmentation.

PubMed

Pimsler, Meaghan L; Jackson, Jason M; Lozier, Jeffrey D

2017-05-01

Variation in bumble bee color patterns is well-documented within and between species. Identifying the genetic mechanisms underlying such variation may be useful in revealing evolutionary forces shaping rapid phenotypic diversification. The widespread North American species Bombus bifarius exhibits regional variation in abdominal color forms, ranging from red-banded to black-banded phenotypes and including geographically and phenotypically intermediate forms. Identifying genomic regions linked to this variation has been complicated by strong, near species level, genome-wide differentiation between red- and black-banded forms. Here, we instead focus on the closely related black-banded and intermediate forms that both belong to the subspecies B. bifarius nearcticus . We analyze an RNA sequencing (RNAseq) data set and identify a cluster of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within one gene, Xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase -like, that exhibit highly unusual differentiation compared to the rest of the sequenced genome. Homologs of this gene contribute to pigmentation in other insects, and results thus represent a strong candidate for investigating the genetic basis of pigment variation in B. bifarius and other bumble bee mimicry complexes.

From Syllabus To Diagnostic Exam: Learnings from the New Faculty Workshop Applied In the Intro Physics Classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanoff, Michael

2009-03-01

Kalamazoo College offers a ``one-size-fits-all'' concept-based introductory physics sequence. The widely varying demographic composition of the class --- including majors in biology, chemistry, pre-med, physics, and math, along with occasional humanities majors --- adds obvious challenges to the successful learning experience. As such, educational techniques that apply across the demographic are required. Several ideas presented at the Fall 2005 New Faculty Workshop apply to the needs of this broad range of students at Kalamazoo College, including an ``organic'' course syllabus that has been allowed to grow to whatever extent necessary to address recurring student concerns and misunderstandings about course expectations, policies, and guidelines, and to provide advice on recurring themes; peer instruction for maximizing classroom value; and hiring teaching assistants with first hand experience in the course and the labs. Details on implementing these techniques, including developing a syllabus with unusual section headings such as ``Attendance and Homework Dramas'' and ``Introductory Physics Survival Requirements,'' will be presented. Success of the techniques, as evidenced by performance on diagnostic exams, class attendance, and comments from course evaluations, will be discussed.

Characterization of an atypical, thermostable, organic solvent- and acid-tolerant 2'-deoxyribosyltransferase from Chroococcidiopsis thermalis.

PubMed

Del Arco, Jon; Sánchez-Murcia, Pedro Alejandro; Mancheño, José Miguel; Gago, Federico; Fernández-Lucas, Jesús

2018-06-05

In our search for thermophilic and acid-tolerant nucleoside 2'-deoxyribosyltransferases (NDTs), we found a good candidate in an enzyme encoded by Chroococcidiopsis thermalis PCC 7203 (CtNDT). Biophysical and biochemical characterization revealed CtNDT as a homotetramer endowed with good activity and stability at both high temperatures (50-100 °C) and a wide range of pH values (from 3 to 7). CtNDT recognizes purine bases and their corresponding 2'-deoxynucleosides but is also proficient using cytosine and 2'-deoxycytidine as substrates. These unusual features preclude the strict classification of CtNDT as either a type I or a type II NDT and further suggest that this simple subdivision may need to be updated in the future. Our findings also hint at a possible link between oligomeric state and NDT's substrate specificity. Interestingly from a practical perspective, CtNDT displays high activity (80-100%) in the presence of several water-miscible co-solvents in a proportion of up to 20% and was successfully employed in the enzymatic production of several therapeutic nucleosides such as didanosine, vidarabine, and cytarabine.

How baculovirus polyhedra fit square pegs into round holes to robustly package viruses.

PubMed

Ji, Xiaoyun; Sutton, Geoff; Evans, Gwyndaf; Axford, Danny; Owen, Robin; Stuart, David I

2010-01-20

Natural protein crystals (polyhedra) armour certain viruses, allowing them to survive for years under hostile conditions. We have determined the structure of polyhedra of the baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), revealing a highly symmetrical covalently cross-braced robust lattice, the subunits of which possess a flexible adaptor enabling this supra-molecular assembly to specifically entrap massive baculoviruses. Inter-subunit chemical switches modulate the controlled release of virus particles in the unusual high pH environment of the target insect's gut. Surprisingly, the polyhedrin subunits are more similar to picornavirus coat proteins than to the polyhedrin of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV). It is, therefore, remarkable that both AcMNPV and CPV polyhedra possess identical crystal lattices and crystal symmetry. This crystalline arrangement must be particularly well suited to the functional requirements of the polyhedra and has been either preserved or re-selected during evolution. The use of flexible adaptors to generate a powerful system for packaging irregular particles is characteristic of the AcMNPV polyhedrin and may provide a vehicle to sequester a wide range of objects such as biological nano-particles.

Polyamorphism in tetrahedral substances: Similarities between silicon and ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcez, K. M. S.; Antonelli, A.

2015-07-01

Tetrahedral substances, such as silicon, water, germanium, and silica, share various unusual phase behaviors. Among them, the so-called polyamorphism, i.e., the existence of more than one amorphous form, has been intensively investigated in the last three decades. In this work, we study the metastable relations between amorphous states of silicon in a wide range of pressures, using Monte Carlo simulations. Our results indicate that the two amorphous forms of silicon at high pressures, the high density amorphous (HDA) and the very high density amorphous (VHDA), can be decompressed from high pressure (˜20 GPa) down to the tensile regime, where both convert into the same low density amorphous. Such behavior is also observed in ice. While at high pressure (˜20 GPa), HDA is less stable than VHDA, at the pressure of 10 GPa both forms exhibit similar stability. On the other hand, at much lower pressure (˜5 GPa), HDA and VHDA are no longer the most stable forms, and, upon isobaric annealing, an even less dense form of amorphous silicon emerges, the expanded high density amorphous, again in close similarity to what occurs in ice.

Unusual occurrence of intestinal pseudo obstruction in a patient with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) and favorable outcome with coenzyme Q10.

PubMed

Bergamin, Carla S; Rolim, Luiz Clemente; Dib, Sergio A; Moisés, Regina S

2008-11-01

Maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) has been related to an A to G transition in the mitochondrial tRNA Leu (UUR) gene at the base pair 3243. This subtype of diabetes is characterized by maternal transmission, young age at onset and bilateral hearing impairment. Besides diabetes and deafness, the main diagnostic features, a wide range of multisystemic symptoms may be associated with the A3243G mutation. Organs that are most metabolically active, such as muscles, myocardium, retina, cochlea, kidney and brain are frequently affected. Gastrointestinal tract symptoms are also common in patients with mitochondrial disease and constipation and diarrhea are the most frequent manifestations. However, there are few prior reports of intestinal pseudo obstruction in MIDD patients. Here we report the case of a patient with MIDD associated with the mtDNA A3243G mutation who developed chronic intestinal pseudo obstruction, and the introduction of Coenzyme Q10 as adjunctive therapy led to a solution of the pseudo obstruction.

Identification and Characterization of the Iridoid Synthase Involved in Oleuropein Biosynthesis in Olive (Olea europaea) Fruits.

PubMed

Alagna, Fiammetta; Geu-Flores, Fernando; Kries, Hajo; Panara, Francesco; Baldoni, Luciana; O'Connor, Sarah E; Osbourn, Anne

2016-03-11

The secoiridoids are the main class of specialized metabolites present in olive (Olea europaea L.) fruit. In particular, the secoiridoid oleuropein strongly influences olive oil quality because of its bitterness, which is a desirable trait. In addition, oleuropein possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. In accordance, obtaining high oleuropein varieties is a main goal of molecular breeding programs. Here we use a transcriptomic approach to identify candidate genes belonging to the secoiridoid pathway in olive. From these candidates, we have functionally characterized the olive homologue of iridoid synthase (OeISY), an unusual terpene cyclase that couples an NAD (P)H-dependent 1,4-reduction step with a subsequent cyclization, and we provide evidence that OeISY likely generates the monoterpene scaffold of oleuropein in olive fruits. OeISY, the first pathway gene characterized for this type of secoiridoid, is a potential target for breeding programs in a high value secoiridoid-accumulating species. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Radical Education Reforms. The Series on Contemporary Educational Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Finn, Chester E., Jr., Ed.; Walberg, Herbert J., Ed.

This book presents a diverse set of unusual and significant departures from customary educational policies and practices. These "radical" ideas range from calling for national standards, to enacting statewide legislative initiatives, to implementing decentralized local initiatives such as charter schools, local school councils, and privatization.…

Comparison of Disk Diffusion, VITEK 2, and Broth Microdilution Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Results for Unusual Species of Enterobacteriaceae▿

PubMed Central

Stone, Nimalie D.; O'Hara, Caroline M.; Williams, Portia P.; McGowan, John E.; Tenover, Fred C.

2007-01-01

We compared the antimicrobial susceptibility testing results generated by disk diffusion and the VITEK 2 automated system with the results of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution (BMD) reference method for 61 isolates of unusual species of Enterobacteriaceae. The isolates represented 15 genera and 26 different species, including Buttiauxella, Cedecea, Kluyvera, Leminorella, and Yokenella. Antimicrobial agents included aminoglycosides, carbapenems, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, penicillins, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. CLSI interpretative criteria for Enterobacteriaceae were used. Of the 12 drugs tested by BMD and disk diffusion, 10 showed >95% categorical agreement (CA). CA was lower for ampicillin (80.3%) and cefazolin (77.0%). There were 3 very major errors (all with cefazolin), 1 major error (also with cefazolin), and 26 minor errors. Of the 40 isolates (representing 12 species) that could be identified with the VITEK 2 database, 36 were identified correctly to species level, 1 was identified to genus level only, and 3 were reported as unidentified. VITEK 2 generated MIC results for 42 (68.8%) of 61 isolates, but categorical interpretations (susceptible, intermediate, and resistant) were provided for only 22. For the 17 drugs tested by both BMD and VITEK 2, essential agreement ranged from 80.9 to 100% and CA ranged from 68.2% (ampicillin) to 100%; thirteen drugs exhibited 100% CA. In summary, disk diffusion provides a reliable alternative to BMD for testing of unusual Enterobacteriaceae, some of which cannot be tested, or produce incorrect results, by automated methods. PMID:17135429

Soft mechanical metamaterials with unusual swelling behavior and tunable stress-strain curves

PubMed Central

Guo, Xiaogang; Wu, Jun

2018-01-01

Soft adaptable materials that change their shapes, volumes, and properties in response to changes under ambient conditions have important applications in tissue engineering, soft robotics, biosensing, and flexible displays. Upon water absorption, most existing soft materials, such as hydrogels, show a positive volume change, corresponding to a positive swelling. By contrast, the negative swelling represents a relatively unusual phenomenon that does not exist in most natural materials. The development of material systems capable of large or anisotropic negative swelling remains a challenge. We combine analytic modeling, finite element analyses, and experiments to design a type of soft mechanical metamaterials that can achieve large effective negative swelling ratios and tunable stress-strain curves, with desired isotropic/anisotropic features. This material system exploits horseshoe-shaped composite microstructures of hydrogel and passive materials as the building blocks, which extend into a periodic network, following the lattice constructions. The building block structure leverages a sandwiched configuration to convert the hydraulic swelling deformations of hydrogel into bending deformations, thereby resulting in an effective shrinkage (up to around −47% linear strain) of the entire network. By introducing spatially heterogeneous designs, we demonstrated a range of unusual, anisotropic swelling responses, including those with expansion in one direction and, simultaneously, shrinkage along the perpendicular direction. The design approach, as validated by experiments, allows the determination of tailored microstructure geometries to yield desired length/area changes. These design concepts expand the capabilities of existing soft materials and hold promising potential for applications in a diverse range of areas.

Experimental observation and simulation of unusual microwave response for the superconducting microstrip resonator at small dc magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ong, C. K.; Rao, X. S.; Jin, B. B.

1999-11-01

An unusual microwave response of the surface impedance Zs of high-Tc thin films at an applied small dc magnetic field (Bdc) at 77 K, namely a decrease of Zs, is observed with the microstrip resonator technique. The resonant frequency is 1.107 GHz. The direction of Bdc is parallel or perpendicular to the a-b plane. Bdc ranges from 0 to 200 G. It is found that the surface resistance (Rs) at Bdc parallel to the a-b plane first decreases with Bdc and then increases above a crossover field. The Rs behaviour for Bdc perpendicular to the a-b plane is the same but with a different crossover field. The two behaviours can be collapsed to one curve by scaling the crossover fields. The changes of surface reactance Xs correlated linearly with the changes of Rs in the ranges of Bdc. The ratios rH of changes of Rs and Xs (rH = icons/Journals/Common/Delta" ALT="Delta" ALIGN="TOP"/> Rs/icons/Journals/Common/Delta" ALT="Delta" ALIGN="TOP"/> Xs) are 0.5 at Bdc less than the crossover field and 0.1 at Bdc greater than the crossover field. The measurements also show that the crossover field is independent of rf input power. A phenomenological model is also proposed to explain this unusual behaviour. By adjusting fitting parameters the computed results agree with the experimental results qualitatively.

Coast live oak resistance to Phytophthora ramorum

Treesearch

B.A. McPherson; David L. Wood; Sylvia R. Mori; Pierluigi Bonello

2012-01-01

The oomycete Phytophthora ramorum is a plant pathogen with an unusually broad host range. Recognized in 2000 as a previously unknown and likely introduced species, this pathogen has become established in central and northern coastal California, southwestern Oregon, and Western Europe. Tree species that may be killed by stem cankers include true...

The German Photographic Annual; 1972.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strache, Wolf, Ed.; Steinert, Otto, Ed.

Designed as a forum for the creative photographer who can produce work of an outstanding character, this 18th edition of the annual presents over 160 photographs whose themes range from advertising and industrial pictures, through unusual pictorial solutions in fashion photography, to experimental work, novel nude studies, and dramatic landscapes.…

[Death caused by projectile guns--a retrospective analysis of 34 cases in Berlin and Hamburg].

PubMed

Lignitz, E; Koops, E; Püschel, K

1988-01-01

The autopsy material of the institutes for forensic medicine in Berlin/GDR and Hamburg was analyzed retrospectively (period from 1961 till 1987; 70,000 autopsies) for fatalities caused by "humane killers" (n = 22) and stud guns (n = 12).-Epidemiological, criminological and morphological findings: The decreased were all men aged between 18 and 75 years (mean 48 years) except one 61 year-old paraplegic women who was killed by her husband with a humane killer. The great majority of cases consisted of suicides; two accidents at work were caused by stud guns. These unusual weapons are normally used by skilled people (i.e. butchers or constructional workers respectively). The fatal wounds were situated at the head, especially the forehead, seldom at the nape of the neck or in the mouth, or sometimes in the chest when using stud guns. Combined suicides (especially together with hanging) are not unusual. Survival periods (with or without acting capacity) can range between minutes or even months (after neurosurgical intervention).-The frequency of such unusual and overall rare cases did not raise during the investigation period.

In vitro activity of daptomycin against clinical isolates of Gram-positive bacteria.

PubMed

Piper, Kerryl E; Steckelberg, James M; Patel, Robin

2005-08-01

We determined the activity of daptomycin, a recently FDA-approved antimicrobial agent, against clinical isolates of Gram-positive bacteria, including viridans group streptococci (16 Streptococcus mitis species group, 12 S. mutans species group, 9 S. anginosus species group, 8 S. sanguinis species group, 5 S. salivarius species group) from patients with infective endocarditis, 32 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 32 high-level penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, 38 vancomycin-resistant enterococci (including 1 linezolid-resistant isolate), and the following unusual Gram-positive bacteria: 3 Listeria monocytogenes, 4 Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, 9 Corynebacterium species, 10 Abiotrophia/Granulicatella species, 2 Rothia (Stomatococcus) mucilaginosus, and 4 Gemella morbillorum. Daptomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)(90) values for the viridans group streptococci, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae, and Enterococcus species were 0.5, 0.5, < or =0.125, and 4 microg/ml, respectively. The daptomycin MIC range for the unusual Gram-positive bacteria was < or =0.125-2 microg/ml. We conclude that daptomycin has in vitro activity against viridans group streptococci associated with endocarditis as well as against several types of unusual Gram-positive bacteria that can cause endocarditis.

Methods of sequencing and detection using energy transfer labels with cyanine dyes as donor chromophores

DOEpatents

Glazer, Alexander N.; Mathies, Richard A.; Hung, Su-Chun; Ju, Jingyue

2000-01-01

Cyanine dyes are used as the donor fluorophore in energy transfer labels in which light energy is absorbed by a donor fluorophore and transferred to an acceptor fluorophore which responds to the transfer by emitting fluorescent light for detection. The cyanine dyes impart an unusually high sensitivity to the labels thereby improving their usefulness in a wide variety of biochemical procedures, particularly nucleic acid sequencing, nucleic acid fragment sizing, and related procedures.

Cyanine dyes with high-absorbance cross section as donor chromophores in energy transfer labels

DOEpatents

Glazer, Alexander N.; Mathies, Richard A.; Hung, Su-Chun; Ju, Jingyue

1998-01-01

Cyanine dyes are used as the donor fluorophore in energy transfer labels in which light energy is absorbed by a donor fluorophore and transferred to an acceptor fluorophore which responds to the transfer by emitting fluorescent light for detection. The cyanine dyes impart an unusually high sensitivity to the labels thereby improving their usefulness in a wide variety of biochemical procedures, particularly nucleic acid sequencing, nucleic acid fragment sizing, and related procedures.

Prototheca wickerhamii infection of a corneal graft.

PubMed

Solky, Ana C; Laver, Nora M V; Williams, Joseph; Fraire, Armando

2011-10-01

Algae are generally noninfectious agents in mammals, with few known pathogenic algae. Prototheca is an achlorophylic nonphotosynthetic algae, globally ubiquitous, and readily isolated from rivers, lakes, ponds, and soil. Although canine and bovine protothecosis have been reported more widely, infections in humans are rare, particularly in patients with an intact immune system. The majority of protothecal infections in humans is associated with Prototheca wickerhamii. We report an unusual case of P. wickerhamii infection in an immunocompetent corneal transplant patient.

Evolutionary Processes in Multiple Systems

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

Eggleton, P P; Kisseleva-Eggleton, L

There are several ways in which triple stars can evolve in somewhat unusual ways. They discuss two situations where Case A Roche-lobe overflow, followed by a merger, can produce anomalous wide binaries such as {gamma} Per; and Kozai cycles in triples with non-parallel orbits, which can produce merged rapidly-rotating stars like AB Dor, and which can also lead to the delayed ejection of one component of a multiple, as may have been observed in T Tau in 1998.

Unusual Necrotizing Encephalitis in Raccoons and Skunks Concurrently Infected With Canine Distemper Virus and Sarcocystis sp.

PubMed

Kubiski, S V; Sisó, S; Church, M E; Cartoceti, A N; Barr, B; Pesavento, P A

2016-05-01

Canine distemper virus commonly infects free-ranging, terrestrial mesopredators throughout the United States. Due to the immunosuppressive effects of the virus, concurrent opportunistic infections are also common. Among these, secondary systemic protozoal infections have been described in a number of species. We report an unusual presentation of necrotizing encephalitis associated withSarcocystissp in four raccoons and one skunk concurrently infected with canine distemper virus. Lesions were characterized by variably sized necrotizing cavitations composed of abundant mineral admixed with inflammatory cells and protozoa.Sarcocystissp was confirmed via immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody toSarcocystis neurona The pathologic changes are similar to lesions in human AIDS patients infected withToxoplasma gondii. © The Author(s) 2015.

Atypical cerebellar slump syndrome and external hydrocephalus following craniocervical decompression for Chiari I malformation: case report.

PubMed

Thakar, Sumit; Dadlani, Ravi; Tawari, Manish; Hegde, Alangar S

2014-01-01

Symptomatic cerebellar slump (CS) and external hydrocephalus (EH) are amongst the rarer complications of foramen magnum decompression (FMD) for Chiari I malformation (CM). CS typically presents with delayed onset headache related to dural traction or with neurological deficit offsetting the benefit of FMD. EH, consisting of ventriculomegaly along with subdural fluid collection(s) (SFCs), has been related to cerebrospinal fluid egress from a tiny breach in an otherwise intact arachnoid. We describe the case of a 21-year-old man with CM and syringomyelia who presented with impaired gag, spastic quadriparesis, and raised intracranial pressure 1 week following an uneventful FMD during which the arachnoid had been widely fenestrated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an infratentorial SFC, dilated aqueduct and triventriculomegaly, features of CS, and a residual but resolving syrinx. His symptoms resolved following a high pressure ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. At a 6-month follow-up visit, he was asymptomatic and demonstrated partial resolution of the syrinx, with no recurrence of the SFC. The unusual features in the clinical course of this patient were an atypical CS syndrome presenting with concomitantly resolving syringomyelia, and the development of EH after a wide arachnoidal fenestration. This is the first case in indexed literature describing such a combination of unusual postoperative complications of a FMD. A hypothesis is presented to explain the clinico-radiological findings of the case.

Atypical Cerebellar Slump Syndrome and External Hydrocephalus following Craniocervical Decompression for Chiari I Malformation: Case Report

PubMed Central

THAKAR, Sumit; DADLANI, Ravi; TAWARI, Manish; HEGDE, Alangar S

2014-01-01

Symptomatic cerebellar slump (CS) and external hydrocephalus (EH) are amongst the rarer complications of foramen magnum decompression (FMD) for Chiari I malformation (CM). CS typically presents with delayed onset headache related to dural traction or with neurological deficit offsetting the benefit of FMD. EH, consisting of ventriculomegaly along with subdural fluid collection(s) (SFCs), has been related to cerebrospinal fluid egress from a tiny breach in an otherwise intact arachnoid. We describe the case of a 21-year-old man with CM and syringomyelia who presented with impaired gag, spastic quadriparesis, and raised intracranial pressure 1 week following an uneventful FMD during which the arachnoid had been widely fenestrated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an infratentorial SFC, dilated aqueduct and triventriculomegaly, features of CS, and a residual but resolving syrinx. His symptoms resolved following a high pressure ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. At a 6-month follow-up visit, he was asymptomatic and demonstrated partial resolution of the syrinx, with no recurrence of the SFC. The unusual features in the clinical course of this patient were an atypical CS syndrome presenting with concomitantly resolving syringomyelia, and the development of EH after a wide arachnoidal fenestration. This is the first case in indexed literature describing such a combination of unusual postoperative complications of a FMD. A hypothesis is presented to explain the clinico-radiological findings of the case. PMID:24257499

Leptoglycin: a new Glycine/Leucine-rich antimicrobial peptide isolated from the skin secretion of the South American frog Leptodactylus pentadactylus (Leptodactylidae).

PubMed

Sousa, Juliana C; Berto, Raquel F; Gois, Elicélia A; Fontenele-Cardi, Nauíla C; Honório, José E R; Konno, Katsuhiro; Richardson, Michael; Rocha, Marcos F G; Camargo, Antônio A C M; Pimenta, Daniel C; Cardi, Bruno A; Carvalho, Krishnamurti M

2009-07-01

Antimicrobial peptides are components of innate immunity that is the first-line defense against invading pathogens for a wide range of organisms. Here, we describe the isolation, biological characterization and amino acid sequencing of a novel neutral Glycine/Leucine-rich antimicrobial peptide from skin secretion of Leptodactylus pentadactylus named leptoglycin. The amino acid sequence of the peptide purified by RP-HPLC (C(18) column) was deduced by mass spectrometric de novo sequencing and confirmed by Edman degradation: GLLGGLLGPLLGGGGGGGGGLL. Leptoglycin was able to inhibit the growth of Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Citrobacter freundii with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 8 microM, 50 microM, and 75 microM respectively, but it did not show antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Enterococcus faecalis), yeasts (Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis) and dermatophytes fungi (Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum). No hemolytic activity was observed at the 2-200 microM range concentration. The amino acid sequence of leptoglycin with high level of glycine (59.1%) and leucine (36.4%) containing an unusual central proline suggests the existence of a new class of Gly/Leu-rich antimicrobial peptides. Taken together, these results suggest that this natural antimicrobial peptide could be a tool to develop new antibiotics.

Biocontrol of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria and bacterial phytopathogens by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus.

PubMed

McNeely, Damian; Chanyi, Ryan M; Dooley, James S; Moore, John E; Koval, Susan F

2017-04-01

Bdellovibrio and like organisms are predatory bacteria that have the unusual property of using the cytoplasmic constituents of other Gram-negative bacteria as nutrients. These predators may thus provide an alternative approach to the biocontrol of human and plant pathogens. Predators were isolated on Burkholderia cenocepacia K56-2 and J2315 as prey cells, in enrichment cultures with soil and sewage. Three isolates (DM7C, DM8A, and DM11A) were identified as Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus on the basis of morphology, a periplasmic life cycle, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The prey range of these isolates was tested on Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria and several phytopathogenic bacteria of agricultural importance. Of 31 strains of the Burkholderia cepacia complex tested, only 4 were resistant to predation by strain DM7C. A subset of 9 of the prey tested were also susceptible to strains DM8A and DM11A. Of 12 phytopathogens tested, 4 were resistant to strains DM7C and DM8A, and only 2 were resistant to strain DM11A. Thus, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus strains retrieved from environmental samples on 2 Burkholderia cenocepacia isolates from cystic fibrosis patients did not distinguish in their prey range between other isolates of that pathogen or phytopathogens. Such strains hold promise as potential wide-spectrum biocontrol agents.

A genomic portrait of haplotype diversity and signatures of selection in indigenous southern African populations.

PubMed

Chimusa, Emile R; Meintjies, Ayton; Tchanga, Milaine; Mulder, Nicola; Seoighe, Cathal; Seioghe, Cathal; Soodyall, Himla; Ramesar, Rajkumar

2015-03-01

We report a study of genome-wide, dense SNP (∼ 900K) and copy number polymorphism data of indigenous southern Africans. We demonstrate the genetic contribution to southern and eastern African populations, which involved admixture between indigenous San, Niger-Congo-speaking and populations of Eurasian ancestry. This finding illustrates the need to account for stratification in genome-wide association studies, and that admixture mapping would likely be a successful approach in these populations. We developed a strategy to detect the signature of selection prior to and following putative admixture events. Several genomic regions show an unusual excess of Niger-Kordofanian, and unusual deficiency of both San and Eurasian ancestry, which were considered the footprints of selection after population admixture. Several SNPs with strong allele frequency differences were observed predominantly between the admixed indigenous southern African populations, and their ancestral Eurasian populations. Interestingly, many candidate genes, which were identified within the genomic regions showing signals for selection, were associated with southern African-specific high-risk, mostly communicable diseases, such as malaria, influenza, tuberculosis, and human immunodeficiency virus/AIDs. This observation suggests a potentially important role that these genes might have played in adapting to the environment. Additionally, our analyses of haplotype structure, linkage disequilibrium, recombination, copy number variation and genome-wide admixture highlight, and support the unique position of San relative to both African and non-African populations. This study contributes to a better understanding of population ancestry and selection in south-eastern African populations; and the data and results obtained will support research into the genetic contributions to infectious as well as non-communicable diseases in the region.

A Genomic Portrait of Haplotype Diversity and Signatures of Selection in Indigenous Southern African Populations

PubMed Central

Chimusa, Emile R.; Meintjies, Ayton; Tchanga, Milaine; Mulder, Nicola; Seoighe, Cathal; Soodyall, Himla; Ramesar, Rajkumar

2015-01-01

We report a study of genome-wide, dense SNP (∼900K) and copy number polymorphism data of indigenous southern Africans. We demonstrate the genetic contribution to southern and eastern African populations, which involved admixture between indigenous San, Niger-Congo-speaking and populations of Eurasian ancestry. This finding illustrates the need to account for stratification in genome-wide association studies, and that admixture mapping would likely be a successful approach in these populations. We developed a strategy to detect the signature of selection prior to and following putative admixture events. Several genomic regions show an unusual excess of Niger-Kordofanian, and unusual deficiency of both San and Eurasian ancestry, which were considered the footprints of selection after population admixture. Several SNPs with strong allele frequency differences were observed predominantly between the admixed indigenous southern African populations, and their ancestral Eurasian populations. Interestingly, many candidate genes, which were identified within the genomic regions showing signals for selection, were associated with southern African-specific high-risk, mostly communicable diseases, such as malaria, influenza, tuberculosis, and human immunodeficiency virus/AIDs. This observation suggests a potentially important role that these genes might have played in adapting to the environment. Additionally, our analyses of haplotype structure, linkage disequilibrium, recombination, copy number variation and genome-wide admixture highlight, and support the unique position of San relative to both African and non-African populations. This study contributes to a better understanding of population ancestry and selection in south-eastern African populations; and the data and results obtained will support research into the genetic contributions to infectious as well as non-communicable diseases in the region. PMID:25811879

Mastocytosis presenting as a skeletal disorder.

PubMed Central

Delsignore, J. L.; Dvoretsky, P. M.; Hicks, D. G.; O'Keefe, R. J.; Rosier, R. N.

1996-01-01

Mastocytosis is a rare disease of mast-cell proliferation with involvement of the reticuloendothelial systems including skin, bone, gastrointestinal tract, liver, lungs, spleen, and lymph nodes. Systemic mastocytosis is characterized by a combination of symptoms that relate to the mast cells' release of vasoactive substances, such as histamine. These symptoms include urticaria pigmentosa, flushing, syncope with hypotension, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and occasional bronchospasm. The diagnosis of mastocytosis is typically based on the presence of the characteristic extraosseus manifestations. A well recognized roentgenographic feature seen in 70-75% of patients with mastocytosis is diffuse osteolysis and osteosclerosis, affecting primarily the axial skeleton and the ends of the long bones. Rarely, the bony involvement consists of generalized osteoporosis, which may lead to pathologic fracture, or solitary lesions (mastocytomas) which may cause symptoms of localized pain. Four patients with previously diagnosed systemic mastocytosis had unusual skeletal lesions. Clinical and laboratory evaluation of these patients eventually led to the correct diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis. We report these four cases to emphasize the need for thorough evaluation of unusual musculoskeletal findings in association with extraosseus symptoms that are characteristic of mastocytosis. Knowledge of a wide differential diagnosis of unusual skeletal lesions should include systemic mastosytosis. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3A Figure 3B Figure 4 Figure 5A Figure 5B-5C Figure 6 PMID:9129284

Identifying the Source of Large-Scale Atmospheric Variability in Jupiter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orton, Glenn

2011-01-01

We propose to use the unique mid-infrared filtered imaging and spectroscopic capabilities of the Subaru COMICS instrument to determine the mechanisms associated with recent unusual rapid albedo and color transformations of several of Jupiter's bands, particularly its South Equatorial Belt (SEB), as a means to understand the coupling between its dynamics and chemistry. These observations will characterize the temperature, degree of cloud cover, and distribution of minor gases that serve as indirect tracers of vertical motions in regions that will be undergoing unusual large-scale changes in dynamics and chemistry: the SEB, as well as regions near the equator and Jupiter's North Temperate Belt. COMICS is ideal for this investigation because of its efficiency in doing both imaging and spectroscopy, its 24.5-mum filter that is unique to 8-meter-class telescopes, its wide field of view that allows imaging of nearly all of Jupiter's disk, coupled with a high diffraction-limited angular resolution and optimal mid-infrared atmospheric transparency.

Spermatozoon structure and motility in the anuran Lepidobatrachus laevis.

PubMed

Waggener, W L; Carroll, E J

1998-02-01

Synthetic human gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) injections were used for induction of spermatozoon release followed by cloacal lavage or mechanical stimulation of sperm release in Lepidobatrachus laevis. Light microscopic observations of Lepidobatrachus laevis spermatozoa indicated an acrosomal segment with a length of 4.1 microm delineated by an indentation, a nuclear region of 12.6 microm in length and a midpiece of 0.87 microm in length. The tail was 54.9 microm long by 1.35 microm wide with two lateral axial fibers and a central undulating membrane. At the electron microscopic level, the unusual tail had two complete axonemes that emanated from the distal centriole. The tail also contained two axial fibers 77 nm in diameter medial to the axonemes and was connected by an undulating membrane. An unusual accessory cell adherent to the head of the spermatozoon was noted in freshly obtained suspensions of spermatozoa. Spermatozoa with the accessory cell were motile and a subsequent loss of motility was correlated with the shedding of the accessory cell.

Proliferative Enterocolitis Associated with Dual Infection with Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Lawsonia intracellularis in Rabbits

PubMed Central

Schauer, David B.; McCathey, Sonya N.; Daft, Barbara M.; Jha, Sharda S.; Tatterson, Lisa E.; Taylor, Nancy S.; Fox, James G.

1998-01-01

Both enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and an obligate intracellular bacterium, previously referred to as an intracellular Campylobacter-like organism and now designated Lawsonia intracellularis, have been reported as causes of enterocolitis in rabbits. An outbreak of enterocolitis in a group of rabbits, characterized by an unusually high rate of mortality, was found to be associated with dual infection with EPEC and L. intracellularis. The EPEC strain was found to have eaeA gene homology but was negative for afrA homology. The absence of the afrA gene, which encodes the structural subunit for the AF/R1 pilus, indicates that this rabbit EPEC strain is distinct from the prototypic RDEC-1 strain. This finding suggests that rabbit EPEC strains widely reported in Western Europe, which lack AF/R1 pili, are also present in rabbits in the United States. Dual infection with these two pathogens in rabbits has not been previously reported and may have contributed to the unusually high mortality observed in this outbreak. PMID:9620403

Dynamical centrosymmetry breaking — A novel mechanism for second harmonic generation in graphene

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

Carvalho, David N.; Marini, Andrea; Biancalana, Fabio, E-mail: f.biancalana@hw.ac.uk

2017-03-15

We discover an unusual phenomenon that occurs when a graphene monolayer is illuminated by a short and intense pulse at normal incidence. Due to the pulse-induced oscillations of the Dirac cones, a dynamical breaking of the layer’s centrosymmetry takes place, leading to the generation of second harmonic waves. We prove that this result can only be found by using the full Dirac equation and show that the widely used semiconductor Bloch equations fail to reproduce this and some other important physics of graphene. Our results open new windows in the understanding of nonlinear light-matter interactions in a wide variety ofmore » new 2D materials with a gapped or ungapped Dirac-like dispersion.« less

Technical Report: Understanding Functional Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Network Phase Self-Assembly and the Properties of Nanoconfined Water

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

Mahanthappa, Mahesh K; Yethiraj, Arun

Through the synergistic interplay of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, chemical synthesis, and materials characterization by X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, this project investigated the phase behaviors of new classes of aqueous lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) and the properties of water nanoconfined within their pores. A portion of our studies focused on the synthesis of new classes of alkylsulfonic acid and alkylphosphonate amphiphiles, which were shown to undergo water-induced self-assembly to form a wide variety of nanostructured morphologies with unusually high degrees of long-range translational order observed by small- angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Sample LLC morphologies that were observed include themore » lamellar (L!), tricontinuous double gyroid (G), hexagonally-packed cylinders (H), and low symmetry discontinuous micellar (I) Frank-Kasper phases. Since the G and H phases are the most promising for the development of selective ion transporting membranes for energy applications, we sought the characterize the structure and dynamics of water confined within the sub-3 nm pores of these LLCs using wide-angle neutron diffraction (WAND) and quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) experiments performed at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we validated models for analyzing this QENS data to obtain water self-diffusion coefficients in LLC G and H phases of carboxylate and sulfonate surfactant LLCs as a function of the identities of their charge compensating counterions.« less

Comparative Genomics of an Unusual Biogeographic Disjunction in the Cotton Tribe (Gossypieae) Yields Insights into Genome Downsizing

PubMed Central

Arick, Mark A; Conover, Justin L; Thrash, Adam; Sanders, William S; Hsu, Chuan-Yu; Naqvi, Rubab Zahra; Farooq, Muhammad; Li, Xiaochong; Gong, Lei; Mudge, Joann; Ramaraj, Thiruvarangan; Udall, Joshua A; Peterson, Daniel G

2017-01-01

Abstract Long-distance insular dispersal is associated with divergence and speciation because of founder effects and strong genetic drift. The cotton tribe (Gossypieae) has experienced multiple transoceanic dispersals, generating an aggregate geographic range that encompasses much of the tropics and subtropics worldwide. Two genera in the Gossypieae, Kokia and Gossypioides, exhibit a remarkable geographic disjunction, being restricted to the Hawaiian Islands and Madagascar/East Africa, respectively. We assembled and use de novo genome sequences to address questions regarding the divergence of these two genera from each other and from their sister-group, Gossypium. In addition, we explore processes underlying the genome downsizing that characterizes Kokia and Gossypioides relative to other genera in the tribe. Using 13,000 gene orthologs and synonymous substitution rates, we show that the two disjuncts last shared a common ancestor ∼5 Ma, or half as long ago as their divergence from Gossypium. We report relative stasis in the transposable element fraction. In comparison to Gossypium, there is loss of ∼30% of the gene content in the two disjunct genera and a history of genome-wide accumulation of deletions. In both genera, there is a genome-wide bias toward deletions over insertions, and the number of gene losses exceeds the number of gains by ∼2- to 4-fold. The genomic analyses presented here elucidate genomic consequences of the demographic and biogeographic history of these closest relatives of Gossypium, and enhance their value as phylogenetic outgroups. PMID:29194487

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

Zhang, Shuai; Driver, Kevin P.; Soubiran, Francois

As one of the simple alkali metals, sodium has been of fundamental interest for shock physics experiments, but knowledge of its equation of state (EOS) in hot, dense regimes is not well known. By combining path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) results for partially ionized states at high temperatures and density functional theory molecular dynamics (DFT-MD) results at lower temperatures, we have constructed a coherent equation of state for sodium over a wide density-temperature range of 1.93-11.60 g/cm 3 and 10 3–1.29×10 8 K. We find that a localized, Hartree-Fock nodal structure in PIMC yields pressures and internal energies that aremore » consistent with DFT-MD at intermediate temperatures of 2×10 6 K. Since PIMC and DFT-MD provide a first-principles treatment of electron shell and excitation effects, we are able to identify two compression maxima in the shock Hugoniot curve corresponding to K-shell and L-shell ionization. Our Hugoniot curves provide a benchmark for widely used EOS models: SESAME, LEOS, and Purgatorio. Due to the low ambient density, sodium has an unusually high first compression maximum along the shock Hugoniot curve. At beyond 10 7 K, we show that the radiation effect leads to very high compression along the Hugoniot curve, surpassing relativistic corrections, and observe an increasing deviation of the shock and particle velocities from a linear relation. Here, we also compute the temperature-density dependence of thermal and pressure ionization processes.« less

Auditory mechanics and sensitivity in the tropical butterfly Morpho peleides (Papilionoidea, Nymphalidae).

PubMed

Lucas, Kathleen M; Windmill, James F C; Robert, Daniel; Yack, Jayne E

2009-11-01

The ears of insects exhibit a broad functional diversity with the ability to detect sounds across a wide range of frequencies and intensities. In tympanal ears, the membrane is a crucial step in the transduction of the acoustic stimulus into a neural signal. The tropical butterfly Morpho peleides has an oval-shaped membrane at the base of the forewing with an unusual dome in the middle of the structure. We are testing the hypothesis that this unconventional anatomical arrangement determines the mechanical tuning properties of this butterfly ear. Using microscanning laser Doppler vibrometry to measure the vibrational characteristics of this novel tympanum, the membrane was found to vibrate in two distinct modes, depending on the frequency range: at lower frequencies (1-5 kHz) the vibration was focused at the proximal half of the posterior side of the outer membrane, while at higher frequencies (5-20 kHz) the entire membrane contributed to the vibration. The maximum deflection points of the two vibrational modes correspond to the locations of the associated chordotonal organs, suggesting that M. peleides has the capacity for frequency partitioning because of the different vibrational properties of the two membrane components. Extracellular nerve recordings confirm that the innervating chordotonal organs respond to the same frequency range of 1-20 kHz, and are most sensitive between 2 and 4 kHz, although distinct frequency discrimination was not observed. We suggest that this remarkable variation in structure is associated with function that provides a selective advantage, particularly in predator detection.

Activities for Babies and Toddlers with Down Syndrome: A Physiotherapy Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelso, Rose-Anne; Price, Sue

Children with Down Syndrome have the potential for the development of a large range and variety of postures, balance reactions, movements, and skills. Sometimes this potential remains relatively untapped resulting in unusual, inefficient, or even detrimental patterns of movement. By handling and playing with the child, he or she becomes more aware…

Creativity, Birth Order, and Preference for Symmetry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eisenman, Russell; Schussel, Nancy Robinson

1970-01-01

Four hundred fifty college students were given three measures of creativity: (a) complexity-simplicity preference, (b) Personal Opinion Survey, and (c) an unusual uses test. The intercorrelation of the creativity measures ranged .45-.83 (p's is less than .001), and a striking birth-order effect was found: later-born males were significantly less…

The Early Years: Science Tickets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ashbrook, Peggy

2007-01-01

Teachers can spark interest in a science topic by using "science tickets"--special objects offered to children as a way to transition to the science room or into a small group to do a science activity. Objects ranging from ordinary (shells, leaves, or sticks) to unusual (photos, crystals, or plastic worms) appeal to young children's curiosity and…

Higher Education Mergers: Integrating Organisational Cultures and Developing Appropriate Management Styles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Locke, William

2007-01-01

Research evidence indicates that an unusually broad range of issues take on strategic significance in a merger and that organisational cultures are critical to the successful integration of staff, students and other stakeholders within a newly combined higher education institution (HEI). This study was based on two specialist higher education (HE)…

Chandra Observations of Comet 2P/Encke 2003: First Detection of a Collisionally Thin, Fast Solar Wind Charge Exchange System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lisse, C. M.; Christian, D. J.; Deneri, K.; Wolk, S. J.; Bodewits, D.; Hoekstra, R.; Combi, M. R.; Makinen, T.; Dryer, M.; Fry, C. D.;

Proanthocyanidin profile of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) reveals catechin-O-glucoside as the dominant compound.

PubMed

Ojwang, Leonnard O; Yang, Liyi; Dykes, Linda; Awika, Joseph

2013-08-15

Proanthocyanidin (PA) profile and content can have important nutritional and health implications on plant foods. Six diverse cowpea phenotypes (black, red, green, white, light-brown and golden-brown) were investigated for PA composition using normal-phase HPLC and reversed-phase UPLC-TQD-MS. Catechin and (epi)afzelechin were the major flavan-3-ol units. Unusual composition was observed in all cowpea phenotypes with significant degrees of glycosylation in the monomers and dimers. The PA content of cowpea (dry basis) ranged between 2.2 and 6.3 mg/g. Monomeric flavan-3-ols were the largest group of PA (36-69%) in cowpea, with catechin-7-O-glucoside accounting for most (about 88%) of the monomers. The oligomers with degree of polymerization (DP) 2-4 ranged from 0.41 to 1.3 mg/g (15-20%), whereas DP>10 polymers accounted for only 13.5% of PA. Future studies that highlight the impact of the unusual cowpea PA profile on nutritional and bioactive properties of this important legume are warranted. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Experimental evaluation of a unique radiometer for use in solar simulation testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richmond, R. G.

1978-01-01

The vane radiometer is designed to operate over the range 0-1 solar constant and is capable of withstanding temperatures over the range -200 to +175 C. Two of these radiometers, for use in the Johnson Space Center's largest space simulator, have been evaluated for: (1) thermal sensitivity with no solar input, (2) linearity as a function of solar simulation input, and (3) output drift as a function of time. The minimum sensitivity was measured to be approximately 25.5 mV/solar constant. An unusual effect in the pressure range 760 to 1.0 torr is discussed.

Final Environmental Assessment Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR) Precision Strike Weapons (PSW) Test (5-Year Plan) Eglin Air Force Base, Florida

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-11-01

Bottom Areas near Target Areas in the EGTTR, Florida.......................3-41 Figure 4-1. Safety Footprint Around Target Area...Thus, at many deep-water locations, it is not unusual for the low-frequency noise field to be influenced by contributions from tens or even... field at some range. Oilrigs, on the other hand, produce noise throughout the frequency domain. Recently, economic and political factors have not been

Pustular irritant contact dermatitis caused by dexpanthenol in a child.

PubMed

Gulec, Ali Ihsan; Albayrak, Hulya; Uslu, Esma; Başkan, Elife; Aliagaoglu, Cihangir

2015-03-01

Pustular irritant contact dermatitis is rare and unusual clinic form of contact dermatitis. Dexpanthenol is the stable alcoholic analogue of pantothenic acid. It is widely used in cosmetics and topical medical products for several purposes. We present the case of 8-year-old girl with pustules over erythematous and eczematous areas on the face and neck. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported that is diagnosed as pustular irritant contact dermatitis caused by dexpanthenol.

Behçet syndrome.

PubMed

Altiner, Ahmet; Mandal, Rajni

2010-11-15

We present a 34-year-old man with a two-year history of aphthous stomatitis, who later developed painful, erythematous nodules on his lower extremities. A pathergy test was positive, and the diagnosis of Behçet syndrome (BS) was made. It is important for the dermatologist to recognize the wide variety of cutaneous manifestations of this disorder. A pathergy test is a simple diagnostic tool that may assist in making a diagnosis. Case reports of other unusual skin manifestations in BS also are reviewed.

A rare case of isolated macronodular hepatic tuberculosis (Tuberculous) in an immunocompetent patient.

PubMed

Kayar, Yusuf; Ekinci, Iskender; Turkdogan, Figen Tunali; Atay, Musa; Soytas, Rabia Bag; Kayar, Nuket Bayram

2015-11-01

Tuberculosis is one of the most common and well described infectious diseases, with a world wide distribution and a vast spectrum of clinical manifestations. There are three forms of hepatic tuberculosis. Diffuse hepatic involvement with pulmonary or miliary tuberculosis, diffuse hepatic infiltration without recognizable pulmonary involvement is the second form and the third very rare form presents as a focal/local tuberculoma or abscess. In this case report we describe an unusual appearance of macronodular tuberculomas of the liver.

Cyanine dyes with high-absorbance cross section as donor chromophores in energy transfer labels

DOEpatents

Glazer, A.N.; Mathies, R.A.; Hung, S.C.; Ju, J.

1998-12-29

Cyanine dyes are used as the donor fluorophore in energy transfer labels in which light energy is absorbed by a donor fluorophore and transferred to an acceptor fluorophore which responds to the transfer by emitting fluorescent light for detection. The cyanine dyes impart an unusually high sensitivity to the labels thereby improving their usefulness in a wide variety of biochemical procedures, particularly nucleic acid sequencing, nucleic acid fragment sizing, and related procedures. 22 figs.

Climate, not conflict, explains extreme Middle East dust storm

DOE PAGES

Parolari, Anthony J.; Li, Dan; Bou-Zeid, Elie; ...

2016-11-08

The recent dust storm in the Middle East (Sepember 2015) was publicized in the media as a sign of an impending 'Dust Bowl.' Its severity, demonstrated by extreme aerosol optical depth in the atmosphere in the 99th percentile compared to historical data, was attributed to the ongoing regional conflict. However, surface meteorological and remote sensing data, as well as regional climate model simulations, support an alternative hypothesis: the historically unprecedented aridity played a more prominent role, as evidenced by unusual climatic and meteorological conditions prior to and during the storm. Remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index demonstrates that vegetation covermore » was high in 2015 relative to the prior drought and conflict periods, suggesting that agricultural activity was not diminished during that year, thus negating the media narrative. Instead, meteorological simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model show that the storm was associated with a cyclone and 'Shamal' winds, typical for dust storm generation in this region, that were immediately followed by an unusual wind reversal at low levels that spread dust west to the Mediterranean Coast. These unusual meteorological conditions were aided by a significant reduction in the critical shear stress due to extreme dry and hot conditions, thereby enhancing dust availability for erosion during this storm. Concluding, unusual aridity, combined with unique synoptic weather patterns, enhanced dust emission and westward long-range transport across the region, thus generating the extreme storm.« less

Climate, not conflict, explains extreme Middle East dust storm

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

Parolari, Anthony J.; Li, Dan; Bou-Zeid, Elie

The recent dust storm in the Middle East (Sepember 2015) was publicized in the media as a sign of an impending 'Dust Bowl.' Its severity, demonstrated by extreme aerosol optical depth in the atmosphere in the 99th percentile compared to historical data, was attributed to the ongoing regional conflict. However, surface meteorological and remote sensing data, as well as regional climate model simulations, support an alternative hypothesis: the historically unprecedented aridity played a more prominent role, as evidenced by unusual climatic and meteorological conditions prior to and during the storm. Remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index demonstrates that vegetation covermore » was high in 2015 relative to the prior drought and conflict periods, suggesting that agricultural activity was not diminished during that year, thus negating the media narrative. Instead, meteorological simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model show that the storm was associated with a cyclone and 'Shamal' winds, typical for dust storm generation in this region, that were immediately followed by an unusual wind reversal at low levels that spread dust west to the Mediterranean Coast. These unusual meteorological conditions were aided by a significant reduction in the critical shear stress due to extreme dry and hot conditions, thereby enhancing dust availability for erosion during this storm. Concluding, unusual aridity, combined with unique synoptic weather patterns, enhanced dust emission and westward long-range transport across the region, thus generating the extreme storm.« less

Male circumcision decreases penile sensitivity as measured in a large cohort.

PubMed

Bronselaer, Guy A; Schober, Justine M; Meyer-Bahlburg, Heino F L; T'Sjoen, Guy; Vlietinck, Robert; Hoebeke, Piet B

2013-05-01

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: The sensitivity of the foreskin and its importance in erogenous sensitivity is widely debated and controversial. This is part of the actual public debate on circumcision for non-medical reason. Today some studies on the effect of circumcision on sexual function are available. However they vary widely in outcome. The present study shows in a large cohort of men, based on self-assessment, that the foreskin has erogenous sensitivity. It is shown that the foreskin is more sensitive than the uncircumcised glans mucosa, which means that after circumcision genital sensitivity is lost. In the debate on clitoral surgery the proven loss of sensitivity has been the strongest argument to change medical practice. In the present study there is strong evidence on the erogenous sensitivity of the foreskin. This knowledge hopefully can help doctors and patients in their decision on circumcision for non-medical reason. To test the hypothesis that sensitivity of the foreskin is a substantial part of male penile sensitivity. To determine the effects of male circumcision on penile sensitivity in a large sample. The study aimed at a sample size of ≈1000 men. Given the intimate nature of the questions and the intended large sample size, the authors decided to create an online survey. Respondents were recruited by means of leaflets and advertising. The analysis sample consisted of 1059 uncircumcised and 310 circumcised men. For the glans penis, circumcised men reported decreased sexual pleasure and lower orgasm intensity. They also stated more effort was required to achieve orgasm, and a higher percentage of them experienced unusual sensations (burning, prickling, itching, or tingling and numbness of the glans penis). For the penile shaft a higher percentage of circumcised men described discomfort and pain, numbness and unusual sensations. In comparison to men circumcised before puberty, men circumcised during adolescence or later indicated less sexual pleasure at the glans penis, and a higher percentage of them reported discomfort or pain and unusual sensations at the penile shaft. This study confirms the importance of the foreskin for penile sensitivity, overall sexual satisfaction, and penile functioning. Furthermore, this study shows that a higher percentage of circumcised men experience discomfort or pain and unusual sensations as compared with the uncircumcised population. Before circumcision without medical indication, adult men, and parents considering circumcision of their sons, should be informed of the importance of the foreskin in male sexuality. © 2013 BJU International.

ELLIPSOMETRY OF ELECTROCHEMICAL SURFACE LAYERS

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

Muller, R.H.

1977-06-01

Ellipsometry is concerned with the analysis and interpretation of changes in the state of polarization caused by reflection. The technique has found increasing interest in recent years for the measurement of thin films because it is unusually sensitive, disturbs the object minimally and can be applied to surfaces contained in any optically transparent medium. Film thicknesses amenable to measurement range from fractional monoatomic coverage to microscopic thicknesses. The measurement of changes in the state of polarization of light due to reflection provides an unusually sensitive tool for observing surface layers in any optically transparent environment. A fast, self-compensating ellipsometer hasmore » been used to observe the electrochemical formation of reacted surface layers. The optical effect of mass-transport boundary layers and component imperfections have been taken into account in the interpretation of results.« less

An Intense Polarized Radio Flare from AR Lac

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mutel, R. L.; Neff, J. E.; Bookbinder, J.; Pagano, I.

1992-12-01

We have detected an intense, highly circularly polarized radio flare from the close binary system AR Lacertae during a 4 day multi-wavelength observing campaign in 1991 December. The flare lasted more than 6 hours and was preceded by a strong CIV flare one day earlier. The peak circular polarization was 70%, 38%,and 39% RCP at 1.4, 4.9, and 8.4 GHz respectively, with ~ 15% LCP at 15 and 22 GHZ. The high degree of circular polarization over such a large time scale and frequency range is highly unusual compared with previously observed radio flares from RS CVn binaries. Given these unusual characteristics, it is difficult to interpret the radiation mechanism either as a result of gyrosynchrotron emission or a coherent process such as an electron cyclotron maser.

Unusual characteristics of electromagnetic waves excited by cometary newborn ions with large perpendicular energies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brinca, A. L.; Tsurutani, B. T.

1987-01-01

The characteristics of electromagnetic waves excited by cometary newborn ions with large perpendicular energies are examined using a model of solar wind permeated by dilute drifting ring distributions of electrons and oxygen ions with finite thermal spreads. The model has parameters compatible with the ICE observations at the Giacobini-Zinner comet. It is shown that cometary newborn ions with large perpendicular energies can excite a wave mode with rest frame frequencies in the order of the heavy ion cyclotron frequency, Omega(i), and unusual propagation characteristics at small obliquity angles. For parallel propagation, the mode is left-hand circularly polarized, might be unstable in a frequency range containing Omega(i), and moves in the direction of the newborn ion drift along the static magnetic field.

A Survey of PWNe around Narrow-Pulse Gamma-ray Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romani, Roger

2010-09-01

We propose here, on behalf of the Fermi LAT team, ACIS observations of the X-ray counterparts of six unusual gamma-ray pulsars discovered by the LAT. The targets, four seen only in the gamma-rays, two also radio-detected, have unusual single or narrow double pulse profiles, which require particular emission geometries for different pulsar models. By measuring the arcsecond-scale structure of the wind nebula termination shocks of these young (<100kyr) objects, CXO can pin down the viewing angle and test the pulsar physics. All have known X-ray fluxes and we can also extract spectral and distance estimates needed to interpret the GeV gamma-rays. The survey sample covers a range of ages, spindown powers and expected inclinations, making it a powerful test of pulsar emission models.

A novel recombinant retrovirus in the genomes of modern birds combines features of avian and mammalian retroviruses.

PubMed

Henzy, Jamie E; Gifford, Robert J; Johnson, Welkin E; Coffin, John M

2014-03-01

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) represent ancestral sequences of modern retroviruses or their extinct relatives. The majority of ERVs cluster alongside exogenous retroviruses into two main groups based on phylogenetic analyses of the reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme. Class I includes gammaretroviruses, and class II includes lentiviruses and alpha-, beta-, and deltaretroviruses. However, analyses of the transmembrane subunit (TM) of the envelope glycoprotein (env) gene result in a different topology for some retroviruses, suggesting recombination events in which heterologous env sequences have been acquired. We previously demonstrated that the TM sequences of five of the six genera of orthoretroviruses can be divided into three types, each of which infects a distinct set of vertebrate classes. Moreover, these classes do not always overlap the host range of the associated RT classes. Thus, recombination resulting in acquisition of a heterologous env gene could in theory facilitate cross-species transmissions across vertebrate classes, for example, from mammals to reptiles. Here we characterized a family of class II avian ERVs, "TgERV-F," that acquired a mammalian gammaretroviral env sequence. Although TgERV-F clusters near a sister clade to alpharetroviruses, its genome also has some features of betaretroviruses. We offer evidence that this unusual recombinant has circulated among several avian orders and may still have infectious members. In addition to documenting the infection of a nongalliform avian species by a mammalian retrovirus, TgERV-F also underscores the importance of env sequences in reconstructing phylogenies and supports a possible role for env swapping in allowing cross-species transmissions across wide taxonomic distances. Retroviruses can sometimes acquire an envelope gene (env) from a distantly related retrovirus. Since env is a key determinant of host range, such an event affects the host range of the recombinant virus and can lead to the creation of novel retroviral lineages. Retroviruses insert viral DNA into the host DNA during infection, and therefore vertebrate genomes contain a "fossil record" of endogenous retroviral sequences thought to represent past infections of germ cells. We examined endogenous retroviral sequences in avian genomes for evidence of recombination events involving env. Although cross-species transmissions of retroviruses between vertebrate classes (from mammals to birds, for example) are thought to be rare, we here characterized a group of avian retroviruses that acquired an env sequence from a mammalian retrovirus. We offer evidence that this unusual recombinant circulated among songbirds 2 to 4 million years ago and has remained active into the recent past.

Wide Distribution of Foxicin Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Streptomyces Strains – An Unusual Secondary Metabolite with Various Properties

PubMed Central

Greule, Anja; Marolt, Marija; Deubel, Denise; Peintner, Iris; Zhang, Songya; Jessen-Trefzer, Claudia; De Ford, Christian; Burschel, Sabrina; Li, Shu-Ming; Friedrich, Thorsten; Merfort, Irmgard; Lüdeke, Steffen; Bisel, Philippe; Müller, Michael; Paululat, Thomas; Bechthold, Andreas

2017-01-01

Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028 is known to produce the polyketide antibiotic polyketomycin. The deletion of the pokOIV oxygenase gene led to a non-polyketomycin-producing mutant. Instead, novel compounds were produced by the mutant, which have not been detected before in the wild type strain. Four different compounds were identified and named foxicins A–D. Foxicin A was isolated and its structure was elucidated as an unusual nitrogen-containing quinone derivative using various spectroscopic methods. Through genome mining, the foxicin biosynthetic gene cluster was identified in the draft genome sequence of S. diastatochromogenes. The cluster spans 57 kb and encodes three PKS type I modules, one NRPS module and 41 additional enzymes. A foxBII gene-inactivated mutant of S. diastatochromogenes Tü6028 ΔpokOIV is unable to produce foxicins. Homologous fox biosynthetic gene clusters were found in more than 20 additional Streptomyces strains, overall in about 2.6% of all sequenced Streptomyces genomes. However, the production of foxicin-like compounds in these strains has never been described indicating that the clusters are expressed at a very low level or are silent under fermentation conditions. Foxicin A acts as a siderophore through interacting with ferric ions. Furthermore, it is a weak inhibitor of the Escherichia coli aerobic respiratory chain and shows moderate antibiotic activity. The wide distribution of the cluster and the various properties of the compound indicate a major role of foxicins in Streptomyces strains. PMID:28270798

Unusual Association Between Spontaneous Lateral Sphenoid Encephalocele and Chiari Malformation Type I: Endoscopic Repair Through a Transpterygoid Approach.

PubMed

Starnoni, Daniele; Daniel, Roy Thomas; George, Mercy; Messerer, Mahmoud

2017-01-01

Spontaneous meningoencephaloceles of the lateral sphenoid sinus are rare entities, and their peculiar location represents a surgical challenge due to the importance of a wide exposure and skull base reconstruction. They are thought to arise from the congenital base defect of the lateral sphenoid or in some cases have been postulated to represent a rare manifestation of altered cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. We report the first case in the literature of a Chiari malformation type I (CMI) and a lateral sphenoid encephalocele, revising the theoretic etiology and surgical technique of endoscopic repair. A 50-year-old woman with a surgical history of symptomatic CMI presented with episodes of spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea. Radiologic investigations revealed a left mesial temporal encephalocele herniating into the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus and radiologic features of altered CSF dynamics, which may have played an etiologic role. An endoscopic transpterygoid excision of the encephalocele and multilayer skull base repair were performed. The association of spontaneous lateral sphenoid encephaloceles with CMI is distinctly unusual. Predisposing factors and disruption of CSF dynamics may play a major role in the development of these rare complications in patients with CMI. Because of their distinct location, transethmoid or transpterygoid endoscopic approaches represent an excellent surgical technique to treat these lesions thanks to their wide and direct visualization of the entire skull base defect following the encephalocele excision, allowing an adequate multilayer repair and lateral sphenoid recess occlusion. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mapping known and potential mineral occurrences and host rocks in the Bonnifield Mining District using minimal cloud- and snow-cover ASTER data: Chapter E in Recent U.S. Geological Survey studies in the Tintina Gold Province, Alaska, United States, and Yukon, Canada--results of a 5-year project

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hubbard, Bernard E.; Dusel-Bacon, Cynthia; Rowan, Lawrence C.; Eppinger, Robert G.; Gough, Larry P.; Day, Warren C.

2007-01-01

On July 8, 2003, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensor acquired satellite imagery of a 60-kilometer-wide swath covering a portion of the Bonnifield mining district within the southernmost part of the Tintina Gold Province, Alaska, under unusually favorable conditions of minimal cloud and snow cover. Although rocks from more than eight different lithotectonic terranes are exposed within the extended swath of data, we focus on volcanogenic massive sulfides (VMS) and porphyry deposits within the Yukon-Tanana terrane (YTT), the largest Mesozoic accretionary terrane exposed between the Denali fault system to the south of Fairbanks and the Tintina fault system to the north of Fairbanks. Comparison of thermal-infrared region (TIR) decorrelation stretch data to available geologic maps indicates that rocks from the YTT contain a wide range of rock types ranging in composition from mafic metavolcanic rocks to felsic rock types such as metarhyolites, pelitic schists, and quartzites. The nine-band ASTER visible-near-infrared region--short-wave infrared region (VNIR-SWIR) reflectance data and spectral matched-filter processing were used to map hydrothermal alteration patterns associated with VMS and porphyry deposit types. In particular, smectite, kaolinite, opaline silica, jarosite and (or) other ferric iron minerals defined narrow (less than 250-meter diameter) zonal patterns around Red Mountain and other potential VMS targets. Using ASTER we identified some of the known mineral deposits in the region, as well as mineralogically similar targets that may represent potential undiscovered deposits. Some known deposits were not identified and may have been obscured by vegetation or snow cover or were too small to be resolved.

Ultraviolet luninescence of ScPO 4, AlPO 4, and GaPO 4 crystals

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

Trukhin, Anatoly N.; Shmits, Krishjanis; Jansons, Janis L.

2013-08-29

The luminescence of self-trapped excitons (STE) was previously observed and described for the case of tetragonal-symmetry ScPO 4 single crystals in 1996 by Trukhin and Boatner. The subject band in this material is situated in the UV spectral range of ~210 nm or ~5.8 eV. In the present work, we are both expanding this earlier luminescence study and seeking to identify similar luminescence phenomena in other orthophosphate crystals i.e., AlPO 4 and GaPO 4. These efforts have proven to be successful - in spite of the structural differences between these materials and ScPO 4. Specifically we have found that formore » AlPO 4 and GaPO 4, in addition to an -quartz-like STE, there is a UV luminescence that is similar in position and decay properties to that of ScPO 4 crystals. Potentially this represents an STE in AlPO 4, and GaPO 4 crystals that is analogous to the STE of ScPO 4 and other orthophosphates. The decay kinetics of the UV luminescence of ScPO 4 were studied over a wide temperature range from 8 to 300 K, and they exhibited some unusual decay characteristics when subjected to pulses from an F 2 excimer laser (157 nm). These features could be ascribed to a triplet state of the STE that is split in a zero magnetic field. A fast decay of the STE was detected as well, and therefore, we conclude that, in addition to the slow luminescence corresponding to a transition from the triplet state, there are singlet-singlet transitions of the STE. Furthermore, time-resolved spectra of the slow and fast decay exhibit a small shift (~0.15 eV) indicating that the singlet triplet splitting is small and the corresponding wave function of the STE is widely distributed over the atoms of the ScPO 4 crystal where the STE is created.« less

Phytoplankton blooms in estuarine and coastal waters: Seasonal patterns and key species

USGS Publications Warehouse

Carstensen, Jacob; Klais, Riina; Cloern, James E.

2015-01-01

Phytoplankton blooms are dynamic phenomena of great importance to the functioning of estuarine and coastal ecosystems. We analysed a unique (large) collection of phytoplankton monitoring data covering 86 coastal sites distributed over eight regions in North America and Europe, with the aim of investigating common patterns in the seasonal timing and species composition of the blooms. The spring bloom was the most common seasonal pattern across all regions, typically occurring early (February–March) at lower latitudes and later (April–May) at higher latitudes. Bloom frequency, defined as the probability of unusually high biomass, ranged from 5 to 35% between sites and followed no consistent patterns across gradients of latitude, temperature, salinity, water depth, stratification, tidal amplitude or nutrient concentrations. Blooms were mostly dominated by a single species, typically diatoms (58% of the blooms) and dinoflagellates (19%). Diatom-dominated spring blooms were a common feature in most systems, although dinoflagellate spring blooms were also observed in the Baltic Sea. Blooms dominated by chlorophytes and cyanobacteria were only common in low salinity waters and occurred mostly at higher temperatures. Key bloom species across the eight regions included the diatoms Cerataulina pelagica and Dactyliosolen fragilissimus and dinoflagellates Heterocapsa triquetra and Prorocentrum cordatum. Other frequent bloom-forming taxa were diatom genera Chaetoceros, Coscinodiscus, Skeletonema, and Thalassiosira. Our meta-analysis shows that these 86 estuarine-coastal sites function as diatom-producing systems, the timing of that production varies widely, and that bloom frequency is not associated with environmental factors measured in monitoring programs. We end with a perspective on the limitations of conclusions derived from meta-analyses of phytoplankton time series, and the grand challenges remaining to understand the wide range of bloom patterns and processes that select species as bloom dominants in coastal waters.

Rotifers from selected inland saline waters in the Chihuahuan Desert of México

PubMed Central

Walsh, Elizabeth J; Schröder, Thomas; Wallace, Robert L; Ríos-Arana, Judith V; Rico-Martínez, Roberto

2008-01-01

Background In spite of considerable efforts over past decades we still know relatively little regarding the biogeography of rotifers of inland waters in México. To help rectify this we undertook an extensive survey of the rotifer fauna of 48 water bodies in the Chihuahuan Desert of México. Results Of the sites surveyed, 21 had salinities ≥ 2000 μS cm-1 and in these we found 57 species of monogonont rotifers and several bdelloids. Species richness in the saline sites varied widely, with a range in species richness of 1 to 27 and a mean (± 1SD) = 8.8 (± 6.2). Collectively all sites possess relatively high percent single- and doubletons, 33.3 and 21.7%, respectively. Simpson's Asymmetric Index indicated that similarity in rotifer species composition varied widely among a set of 10 sites. These were selected because they were sampled more frequently or represent unusual habitats. These SAI values ranged from 0.00 (complete dissimilarity) to 1.00 (complete similarity). The Jaccard Index varied between 0.00 and 0.35. This observation probably reflects similarities and differences in water chemistry among these sites. Inland saline systems differed in their chemical composition by region. Conductivity was related to hardness and alkalinity. In addition, hardness was positively associated with chloride and sulfate. RDA showed that several species were positively associated with chloride concentration. Other factors that were significantly associated with rotifer species included the presence of macrophytes, nitrate content, oxygen concentration, TDS, latitude and whether the habitat was a large lake or reservoir. Conclusion This study illustrates the diversity of the rotiferan fauna of inland saline systems and the uniqueness among waterbodies. Conservation of these systems is needed to preserve these unique sources of biodiversity that include rotifers and the other endemic species found in association with them. PMID:18533042

24-Way Radial Power Combiner/Divider for 31 to 36 GHz

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Epp, Larry; Hoppe, Daniel; Khan, Abdur; Kelley, Daniel

2008-01-01

The figure shows a prototype radial power-combining waveguide structure, capable of operation at frequencies from 31 to 36 GHz, that features an unusually large number (N = 24) of combining (input) ports. The combination of wide-band operation and large N is achieved by incorporating several enhancements over a basic radial power-combiner design. In addition, the structure can be operated as a power divider by reversing the roles of the input and output ports. In this structure, full-height waveguides at the combining ports are matched in impedance to reduced-height radial waveguides inside the combiner base. This match is effected by impedance-transforming stepped waveguide sections. This matching scheme is essential to achievement of large N because N is limited by the height of the waveguides in the base. Power is coupled from the 24 reduced- height radial waveguides into the TE01 mode of a circular waveguide in the base with the help of a matching post at the bottom of the base. ( TE signifies transverse electric, the first subscript is the azimuthal mode number, and the second subscript is the radial mode number.) More specifically, the matching post matches the reflections from the walls of the 24 reduced-height waveguides and enables the base design to exceed the bandwidth requirement. After propagating along the circular waveguide, the combined power is coupled, via a mode transducer, to a rectangular waveguide output port. The mode transducer is divided into three sections, each sized and shaped as part of an overall design to satisfy the mode-conversion and output-coupling requirements while enabling the circular waveguide to be wide enough for combining the 24 inputs over the frequency range of 31 to 36 GHz. During the design process, it was found that two different rectangular waveguide outputs could be accommodated through modification of only the first section of the mode converter, thereby enabling operation in multiple frequency ranges.

Marine toxins and nonmarine toxins: convergence or symbiotic organisms?

PubMed

Daly, John W

2004-08-01

Bioactive marine natural products occur only rarely in nonmarine sources. The converse also is true. Divergent evolutionary pathways for the biosynthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites seem to be the rule. Marine biosynthetic pathways lead to a wide variety of different structural classes, among which polyethers, macrolides, terpenes, unusual amino acids/peptides, and alkaloids are notable. Nonmarine biosynthetic pathways also lead to a similar wide variety of structural classes. However, the structures are usually quite different from the marine analogues. The alkaloids of plants are notable, but again there appears little convergence between the marine and nonmarine alkaloids. However, tetrodotoxin, a remarkable, highly polar, marine alkaloid, does occur in various amphibians. The occurrence and possible origin of tetrodotoxin and congeners, including chiriquitoxin, and of the saxitoxin analogue zetekitoxin in amphibians are reviewed.

RXRα and LXR activate two promoters in placenta- and tumor-specific expression of PLAC1

PubMed Central

Chen, Yaohui; Moradin, Adi; Schlessinger, David; Nagaraja, Ramaiah

2011-01-01

PLAC1 expression, first characterized as restricted to developing placenta among normal tissues, is also found in a wide range of tumors and transformed cell lines. To understand the basis for its unusual expression profile, we have analyzed the gene structure and its mode of transcription. We find that the gene has a hitherto unique feature, with two promoters, P1 and P2, separated by 105 kb. P2 has been described before. Here we define P1 and show that it and P2 are activated by RXRα in conjunction with LXRα or LXRβ. In placenta, P2 is the preferred promoter, whereas various tumor cell lines tend to express predominantly either one or the other promoter. Furthermore, when each promoter is fused to a luciferase reporter gene and transfected into cancer cell lines, the promoter corresponding to the more active endogenous promoter is preferentially transcribed. Joint expression of activating nuclear receptors can partially account for the restricted expression of PLAC1 in placenta, and may be co-opted for preferential P1 or P2 PLAC1 expression in various tumor cells. PMID:21937108

Age-dependent mycorrhizal specificity in an invasive orchid, Oeceoclades maculata.

PubMed

Bayman, Paul; Mosquera-Espinosa, Ana T; Saladini-Aponte, Carla M; Hurtado-Guevara, Nilbeth C; Viera-Ruiz, Naida L

2016-11-01

Oeceoclades maculata is a naturalized, invasive, terrestrial orchid in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the neotropics. We asked whether its success might be partly explained by its mycorrhizal associations, hypothesizing a relationship with many fungal partners or with one widely distributed partner. Oeceoclades maculata roots were collected throughout Puerto Rico, and the degree of mycorrhizal colonization was measured. For identification of fungi, the ITS region was sequenced from pure cultures and directly from roots. Representative fungi were used for symbiotic seed germination experiments. Colonization of O. maculata roots was very variable. The most common fungus identified by BLAST searches was Psathyrella cf. candolleana, but typical orchid mycorrhizal fungi (Ceratobasidium and Tulasnella) were also found, as were a range of saprotrophs. Seeds germinated in vitro only in the presence of Psathyrella. These results are surprising in two respects. First, O. maculata appears to be highly specific for fungi during seed germination, but unusually promiscuous as adult plants. Second, mycorrhizal associations with Psathyrella and with other saprotrophic fungi have been previously reported, but only from mycoheterotrophic (i.e., nonphotosynthetic) orchids, not from green orchids like Oeceoclades. This combination may partly explain the success of Oeceoclades. © 2016 Botanical Society of America.

A rare Uroglena bloom in Beaver Lake, Arkansas, spring 2015

USGS Publications Warehouse

Green, William R.; Hufhines, Brad

2017-01-01

A combination of factors triggered a Uroglena volvox bloom and taste and odor event in Beaver Lake, a water-supply reservoir in northwest Arkansas, in late April 2015. Factors contributing to the bloom included increased rainfall and runoff containing increased concentrations of dissolved organic carbon, followed by a stable pool, low nutrient concentrations, and an expansion of lake surface area and littoral zone. This was the first time U. volvox was identified in Beaver Lake and the first time it was recognized as a source of taste and odor. Routine water quality samples happened to be collected by the US Geological Survey and the Beaver Water District throughout the reservoir during the bloom—. Higher than normal rainfall in March 2015 increased the pool elevation in Beaver Lake by 2.3 m (by early April), increased the surface area by 10%, and increased the littoral zone by 1214 ha; these conditions persisted for 38 days, resulting from flood water being retained behind the dam. Monitoring programs that cover a wide range of reservoir features, including dissolved organic carbon, zooplankton, and phytoplankton, are valuable in explaining unusual events such as this Uroglena bloom.

Geochemistry of zircons from basic rocks of the Korosten anorthosite-mangerite-charnockite-granite complex, north-western region of the Ukrainian Shield

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shumlyanskyy, Leonid; Belousova, Elena; Petrenko, Oksana

2017-09-01

The concentrations of 26 trace elements have been determined by laser ablation ICP-MS in zircons from four samples of basic rocks of the Korosten anorthosite-mangerite-charnockite-granite plutonic complex, the Ukrainian Shield. Zircons from the Fedorivka and Torchyn gabbroic intrusions and Volynsky anorthosite massif have distinctive abundances of many trace elements (REE, Sr, Y, Mn, Th). Zircons from the gabbroic massifs are unusually enriched in trace elements, while zircons from pegmatites in anorthosite are relatively depleted in trace elements. High concentrations of trace elements in zircons from gabbroic intrusions can be explained by their crystallization from residual interstitial melts enriched in incompatible elements. The zircons studied demonstrate a wide range of Ti concentrations, which reflects their temperature of crystallization: the zircons most enriched in Ti, from mafic pegmatites of the Horbuliv quarry (20-40 ppm), have the highest temperature of crystallization (845 ± 40 °C). Lower (720-770 °C) temperatures of zircon crystallization in gabbroic rocks are explained by its crystallization from the latest portions of the interstitial melt or by simultaneous crystallization of ilmenite. The Ce anomaly in zircons correlates with the degree of oxidation of the coexisting ilmenite.

Dancing with Gravity—Why the Sense of Balance Is (the) Fundamental

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

The sense of balance, which is usually barely noticeable in the background of each of our movements, only becomes manifest in its function during intense stimulation or in the event of illness, which may quite literally turn your world upside down. While it is true that balance is becoming a bigger issue, that is mainly because people are losing it more frequently. So why is balance not as commonly talked about in psychology, medicine or the arts as the other five traditional senses? This is partly due to its unusual multi-modal nature, whereby three sensory inputs are coordinated and integrated by the central nervous system. Without it, however, we might not have much use for the other senses. The sense of balance encompasses the bodily experience in its entirety. Not only do we act with the body, we may also think and feel through it and with it. Bodily states are not simply effects of cognition; they cause it as well. Equilibrioception is an essential sense and it is interconnected with a wide range of other areas, including cognition, perception, embodiment, the autonomic nervous system, aesthetics, the arts, and education. PMID:29303967

Power and fairness in a generalized ultimatum game.

PubMed

Ciampaglia, Giovanni Luca; Lozano, Sergi; Helbing, Dirk

2014-01-01

Power is the ability to influence others towards the attainment of specific goals, and it is a fundamental force that shapes behavior at all levels of human existence. Several theories on the nature of power in social life exist, especially in the context of social influence. Yet, in bargaining situations, surprisingly little is known about its role in shaping social preferences. Such preferences are considered to be the main explanation for observed behavior in a wide range of experimental settings. In this work, we set out to understand the role of bargaining power in the stylized environment of a Generalized Ultimatum Game (GUG). We modify the payoff structure of the standard Ultimatum Game (UG) to investigate three situations: two in which the power balance is either against the proposer or against the responder, and a balanced situation. We find that other-regarding preferences, as measured by the amount of money donated by participants, do not change with the amount of power, but power changes the offers and acceptance rates systematically. Notably, unusually high acceptance rates for lower offers were observed. This finding suggests that social preferences may be invariant to the balance of power and confirms that the role of power on human behavior deserves more attention.

Self-assembly of the general membrane-remodeling protein PVAP into sevenfold virus-associated pyramids.

PubMed

Daum, Bertram; Quax, Tessa E F; Sachse, Martin; Mills, Deryck J; Reimann, Julia; Yildiz, Özkan; Häder, Sabine; Saveanu, Cosmin; Forterre, Patrick; Albers, Sonja-Verena; Kühlbrandt, Werner; Prangishvili, David

2014-03-11

Viruses have developed a wide range of strategies to escape from the host cells in which they replicate. For egress some archaeal viruses use a pyramidal structure with sevenfold rotational symmetry. Virus-associated pyramids (VAPs) assemble in the host cell membrane from the virus-encoded protein PVAP and open at the end of the infection cycle. We characterize this unusual supramolecular assembly using a combination of genetic, biochemical, and electron microscopic techniques. By whole-cell electron cryotomography, we monitored morphological changes in virus-infected host cells. Subtomogram averaging reveals the VAP structure. By heterologous expression of PVAP in cells from all three domains of life, we demonstrate that the protein integrates indiscriminately into virtually any biological membrane, where it forms sevenfold pyramids. We identify the protein domains essential for VAP formation in PVAP truncation mutants by their ability to remodel the cell membrane. Self-assembly of PVAP into pyramids requires at least two different, in-plane and out-of-plane, protein interactions. Our findings allow us to propose a model describing how PVAP arranges to form sevenfold pyramids and suggest how this small, robust protein may be used as a general membrane-remodeling system.

Anomalous electron doping independent two-dimensional superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Wei; Xing, Xiangzhuo; Zhao, Haijun; Feng, Jiajia; Pan, Yongqiang; Zhou, Nan; Zhang, Yufeng; Qian, Bin; Shi, Zhixiang

2017-07-01

Transition metal (Co and Ni) co-doping effects are investigated on an underdoped Ca0.94La0.06Fe2As2 compound. It is discovered that electron doping from substituting Fe with transition metal (TM = Co, Ni) can trigger high-{T}{{c}} superconductivity around 35 K, which emerges abruptly before the total suppression of the innate spin-density-wave/anti-ferromagnetism (SDW/AFM) state. Remarkably, the critical temperature for the high-{T}{{c}} superconductivity remains constant against a wide range of TM doping levels. And the net electron doping density dependence of the superconducting {T}{{c}} based on the rigid band model can be nicely scaled into a single curve for Co and Ni substitutions, in stark contrast to the case of Ba(Fe1-x TM x )2As2. This carrier density independent superconductivity and the unusual scaling behavior are presumably resulted from the interface superconductivity based on the similarity with the interface superconductivity in a La2-x Sr x CuO4-La2CuO4 bilayer. Evidence of the two-dimensional character of the superfluid by angle-resolved magneto-resistance measurements can further strengthen the interface nature of the high-{T}{{c}} superconductivity.

GSK3 as a Sensor Determining Cell Fate in the Brain.

PubMed

Cole, Adam R

2012-01-01

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is an unusual serine/threonine kinase that controls many neuronal functions, including neurite outgrowth, synapse formation, neurotransmission, and neurogenesis. It mediates these functions by phosphorylating a wide range of substrates involved in gene transcription, metabolism, apoptosis, cytoskeletal dynamics, signal transduction, lipid membrane dynamics, and trafficking, amongst others. This complicated list of diverse substrates generally follow a more simple pattern: substrates negatively regulated by GSK3-mediated phosphorylation favor a proliferative/survival state, while substrates positively regulated by GSK3 favor a more differentiated/functional state. Accordingly, GSK3 activity is higher in differentiated cells than undifferentiated cells and physiological (Wnt, growth factors) and pharmacological inhibitors of GSK3 promote the proliferative capacity of embryonic stem cells. In the brain, the level of GSK3 activity influences neural progenitor cell proliferation/differentiation in neuroplasticity and repair, as well as efficient neurotransmission in differentiated adult neurons. While defects in GSK3 activity are unlikely to be the primary cause of neurodegenerative diseases, therapeutic regulation of its activity to promote a proliferative/survival versus differentiated/mature functional environment in the brain could be a powerful strategy for treatment of neurodegenerative and other mental disorders.

GSK3 as a Sensor Determining Cell Fate in the Brain

PubMed Central

Cole, Adam R.

2012-01-01

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is an unusual serine/threonine kinase that controls many neuronal functions, including neurite outgrowth, synapse formation, neurotransmission, and neurogenesis. It mediates these functions by phosphorylating a wide range of substrates involved in gene transcription, metabolism, apoptosis, cytoskeletal dynamics, signal transduction, lipid membrane dynamics, and trafficking, amongst others. This complicated list of diverse substrates generally follow a more simple pattern: substrates negatively regulated by GSK3-mediated phosphorylation favor a proliferative/survival state, while substrates positively regulated by GSK3 favor a more differentiated/functional state. Accordingly, GSK3 activity is higher in differentiated cells than undifferentiated cells and physiological (Wnt, growth factors) and pharmacological inhibitors of GSK3 promote the proliferative capacity of embryonic stem cells. In the brain, the level of GSK3 activity influences neural progenitor cell proliferation/differentiation in neuroplasticity and repair, as well as efficient neurotransmission in differentiated adult neurons. While defects in GSK3 activity are unlikely to be the primary cause of neurodegenerative diseases, therapeutic regulation of its activity to promote a proliferative/survival versus differentiated/mature functional environment in the brain could be a powerful strategy for treatment of neurodegenerative and other mental disorders. PMID:22363258

Elasticity and Fluctuations of Incompatible Nanoribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grossman, Doron; Sharon, Eran; Diamant, Haim

Geometrically incompatible ribbons are ubiquitous in nature, from the growing of biological tissues, to self assemblies of peptides and lipids. These exhibit unusual characteristics such shape bifurcations, and abnormal mechanical properties. When considering nano and micro ribbons, thermal fluctuations convert these properties into nontrivial statistics. We derive a reduced quasi-one-dimensional theory, which describes a wide range of incompatible elastic ribbons, and can be integrated into statistical mechanics formalism. Using it, we compute equilibrium configurations and statistical properties of two types of incompatible ribbons, with experimental significance: ribbons with positive spontaneous curvature, and ribbons with negative spontaneous curvature. The former, above a critical width, has a continuous family of degenerate configurations. In turn this causes the ribbons to behave as a random coils. The latter, however, exhibits a twisted-to-helical transition at a critical width, and behaves as an abnormal coil. It's persistence length is non-monotonic in the ribbon width and vanishes at a critical width, with principal modes of deformation different than compatible ribbons. Measurements of twisted ribbons made of chiral peptides, confirm some predictions of the model. European Research Council SoftGrowth project and The Harvey M. Kruger Family Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Impact of Surface Active Ionic Liquids on the Cloud Points of Nonionic Surfactants and the Formation of Aqueous Micellar Two-Phase Systems.

PubMed

Vicente, Filipa A; Cardoso, Inês S; Sintra, Tânia E; Lemus, Jesus; Marques, Eduardo F; Ventura, Sónia P M; Coutinho, João A P

2017-09-21

Aqueous micellar two-phase systems (AMTPS) hold a large potential for cloud point extraction of biomolecules but are yet poorly studied and characterized, with few phase diagrams reported for these systems, hence limiting their use in extraction processes. This work reports a systematic investigation of the effect of different surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs)-covering a wide range of molecular properties-upon the clouding behavior of three nonionic Tergitol surfactants. Two different effects of the SAILs on the cloud points and mixed micelle size have been observed: ILs with a more hydrophilic character and lower critical packing parameter (CPP < 1 / 2 ) lead to the formation of smaller micelles and concomitantly increase the cloud points; in contrast, ILs with a more hydrophobic character and higher CPP (CPP ≥ 1) induce significant micellar growth and a decrease in the cloud points. The latter effect is particularly interesting and unusual for it was accepted that cloud point reduction is only induced by inorganic salts. The effects of nonionic surfactant concentration, SAIL concentration, pH, and micelle ζ potential are also studied and rationalized.

Dancing with Gravity-Why the Sense of Balance Is (the) Fundamental.

PubMed

Fuchs, Dominik

2018-01-05

The sense of balance, which is usually barely noticeable in the background of each of our movements, only becomes manifest in its function during intense stimulation or in the event of illness, which may quite literally turn your world upside down. While it is true that balance is becoming a bigger issue, that is mainly because people are losing it more frequently. So why is balance not as commonly talked about in psychology, medicine or the arts as the other five traditional senses? This is partly due to its unusual multi-modal nature, whereby three sensory inputs are coordinated and integrated by the central nervous system. Without it, however, we might not have much use for the other senses. The sense of balance encompasses the bodily experience in its entirety. Not only do we act with the body, we may also think and feel through it and with it. Bodily states are not simply effects of cognition; they cause it as well. Equilibrioception is an essential sense and it is interconnected with a wide range of other areas, including cognition, perception, embodiment, the autonomic nervous system, aesthetics, the arts, and education.

Structurally Driven Enhancement of Resonant Tunneling and Nanomechanical Properties in Diamond-like Carbon Superlattices.

PubMed

Dwivedi, Neeraj; McIntosh, Ross; Dhand, Chetna; Kumar, Sushil; Malik, Hitendra K; Bhattacharyya, Somnath

2015-09-23

We report nitrogen-induced enhanced electron tunnel transport and improved nanomechanical properties in band gap-modulated nitrogen doped DLC (N-DLC) quantum superlattice (QSL) structures. The electrical characteristics of such superlattice devices revealed negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior. The interpretation of these measurements is supported by 1D tight binding calculations of disordered superlattice structures (chains), which include bond alternation in sp(3)-hybridized regions. Tandem theoretical and experimental analysis shows improved tunnel transport, which can be ascribed to nitrogen-driven structural modification of the N-DLC QSL structures, especially the increased sp(2) clustering that provides additional conduction paths throughout the network. The introduction of nitrogen also improved the nanomechanical properties, resulting in enhanced elastic recovery, hardness, and elastic modulus, which is unusual but is most likely due to the onset of cross-linking of the network. Moreover, the materials' stress of N-DLC QSL structures was reduced with the nitrogen doping. In general, the combination of enhanced electron tunnel transport and nanomechanical properties in N-DLC QSL structures/devices can open a platform for the development of a new class of cost-effective and mechanically robust advanced electronic devices for a wide range of applications.

Effect of Monomer Solubility on the Evolution of Copolymer Morphology during Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly in Aqueous Solution

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) has become a widely used technique for the rational design of diblock copolymer nano-objects in concentrated aqueous solution. Depending on the specific PISA formulation, reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous dispersion polymerization typically provides straightforward access to either spheres, worms, or vesicles. In contrast, RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization formulations often lead to just kinetically-trapped spheres. This limitation is currently not understood, and only a few empirical exceptions have been reported in the literature. In the present work, the effect of monomer solubility on copolymer morphology is explored for an aqueous PISA formulation. Using 2-hydroxybutyl methacrylate (aqueous solubility = 20 g dm–3 at 70 °C) instead of benzyl methacrylate (0.40 g dm–3 at 70 °C) for the core-forming block allows access to an unusual “monkey nut” copolymer morphology over a relatively narrow range of target degrees of polymerization when using a poly(methacrylic acid) RAFT agent at pH 5. These new anisotropic nanoparticles have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, aqueous electrophoresis, shear-induced polarized light imaging (SIPLI), and small-angle X-ray scattering. PMID:28216792

Large rock avalanches triggered by the M 7.9 Denali Fault, Alaska, earthquake of 3 November 2002

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jibson, R.W.; Harp, E.L.; Schulz, W.; Keefer, D.K.

2006-01-01

The moment magnitude (M) 7.9 Denali Fault, Alaska, earthquake of 3 November 2002 triggered thousands of landslides, primarily rock falls and rock slides, that ranged in volume from rock falls of a few cubic meters to rock avalanches having volumes as great as 20 ?? 106 m3. The pattern of landsliding was unusual: the number and concentration of triggered slides was much less than expected for an earthquake of this magnitude, and the landslides were concentrated in a narrow zone about 30-km wide that straddled the fault-rupture zone over its entire 300-km length. Despite the overall sparse landslide concentration, the earthquake triggered several large rock avalanches that clustered along the western third of the rupture zone where acceleration levels and ground-shaking frequencies are thought to have been the highest. Inferences about near-field strong-shaking characteristics drawn from interpretation of the landslide distribution are strikingly consistent with results of recent inversion modeling that indicate that high-frequency energy generation was greatest in the western part of the fault-rupture zone and decreased markedly to the east. ?? 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A new orange emitting luciferase from the Southern-Amazon Pyrophorus angustus (Coleoptera: Elateridae) click-beetle: structure and bioluminescence color relationship, evolutional and ecological considerations.

PubMed

Amaral, Danilo T; Oliveira, Gabriela; Silva, Jaqueline R; Viviani, Vadim R

2016-08-31

Bioluminescent click-beetles display a wide variation of bioluminescence colors ranging from green to orange, including an unusual intra-specific color variation in the Jamaican Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus. Recently, we collected individuals of the Pyrophorus angustus species from the Southern Amazon forest, in Brazil, which displays an orange light emitting abdominal lantern. This species was also previously described from Central America, but displaying a bioluminescence spectrum from 536 nm (dorsal) to 578 nm (ventral). The biogeographic variation of the bioluminescence color in this species could be an adaptation to environmental reflectance and inter/intraspecific sexual competition. Here, we cloned, sequenced, characterized and performed site-direct mutagenesis of this new orange emitting luciferase. The in vitro luciferase spectrum displayed a peak at 594 nm, KM values for ATP and d-luciferin of 160 μM and 17 μM, respectively, and an optimum pH of approximately 8.5. Comparative multialignment and site-directed mutagenesis using different color emitting click-beetle luciferases from P. angustus, Fulgeochlizus bruchi and Pyrearinus termitilluminans luciferases cloned by our group showed an integral role of residue 247 in bioluminescence color modulation.

Spin-valley skyrmions in graphene at filling factor ν =-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lian, Yunlong; Goerbig, Mark O.

2017-06-01

We model quantum Hall skyrmions in graphene monolayer at quarter filling by a theory of CP3 fields and study the energy minimizing skyrmions in the presence of valley pseudospin anisotropy and Zeeman coupling. We present a diagram of all types of skyrmions in a wide range of the anisotropy parameters. For each type of skyrmion, we visualize it on three Bloch spheres, and present the profiles of its texture on the graphene honeycomb lattice, thus providing references for the scanning-tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy imaging of spin-pseudospin textures in graphene monolayer in the quantum Hall regime. Besides the spin and pseudospin skyrmions for the corresponding degrees of freedom of an electron in the N =0 Landau level, we discuss two unusual types—the "entanglement skyrmion", the texture of which lies in the space of the entanglement of spin and pseudospin, as well as the "deflated pseudospin skyrmion" with partial entanglement. For all skyrmion types, we study the dependence of the energy and the size of a skyrmion on the anisotropy parameters and perpendicular magnetic field. We also propose three ways to modify the anisotropy energy, namely, the sample tilting, the substrate anisotropy, and the valley pseudospin analog of Zeeman coupling.

Gastric Ulcer Hemorrhage - a Potential Life-Threatening Complication of Intragastric Balloon Treatment of Obesity.

PubMed

Mojkowska, Aleksandra; Gazdzinski, Stefan; Fraczek, Mariusz; Wyleżoł, Mariusz

2017-01-01

Some morbidly obese patients do not qualify for bariatric surgery due to general health contraindications. Intragastric balloon treatment might be a therapeutic option in the above-mentioned cases. It can prime super-obese patients with end-stage disease for bariatric surgery. As a neoadjuvant therapy before surgery, it leads to a downstage of the disease by preliminary weight reduction, to an improvement in general health and, in summary, to a reduction of the perioperative risk. It is generally considered to be a safe method. However, due to the wide range of possible complications and unusual symptoms after intragastric balloon treatment, an interdisciplinary, instead of only a surgical or endoscopic, treatment and follow-up might be recommended in these patients. We here describe a potential life-threatening complication in the form of gastric bleeding as a consequence of intragastric balloon treatment and simultaneous aspirin taking and Helicobacter pylori infection. There have been reports of some complications of intragastric balloon treatment. However, to the best of our knowledge there were no reports concerning life-threatening hemorrhage from gastric ulcer. © 2017 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg.

Local phylogenetic divergence and global evolutionary convergence of skull function in reef fishes of the family Labridae.

PubMed

Westneat, Mark W; Alfaro, Michael E; Wainwright, Peter C; Bellwood, David R; Grubich, Justin R; Fessler, Jennifer L; Clements, Kendall D; Smith, Lydia L

2005-05-22

The Labridae is one of the most structurally and functionally diversified fish families on coral and rocky reefs around the world, providing a compelling system for examination of evolutionary patterns of functional change. Labrid fishes have evolved a diverse array of skull forms for feeding on prey ranging from molluscs, crustaceans, plankton, detritus, algae, coral and other fishes. The species richness and diversity of feeding ecology in the Labridae make this group a marine analogue to the cichlid fishes. Despite the importance of labrids to coastal reef ecology, we lack evolutionary analysis of feeding biomechanics among labrids. Here, we combine a molecular phylogeny of the Labridae with the biomechanics of skull function to reveal a broad pattern of repeated convergence in labrid feeding systems. Mechanically fast jaw systems have evolved independently at least 14 times from ancestors with forceful jaws. A repeated phylogenetic pattern of functional divergence in local regions of the labrid tree produces an emergent family-wide pattern of global convergence in jaw function. Divergence of close relatives, convergence among higher clades and several unusual 'breakthroughs' in skull function characterize the evolution of functional complexity in one of the most diverse groups of reef fishes.

Characterization of unusual bacteria isolated from respiratory secretions of cystic fibrosis patients and description of Inquilinus limosus gen. nov., sp. nov.

PubMed

Coenye, Tom; Goris, Johan; Spilker, Theodore; Vandamme, Peter; LiPuma, John J

2002-06-01

Using a polyphasic approach (including cellular protein and fatty acid analysis, biochemical characterization, 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing, and DNA-DNA hybridizations), we characterized 51 bacterial isolates recovered from respiratory secretions of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Our analyses showed that 24 isolates belong to taxa that have so far not (or only rarely) been reported from CF patients. These taxa include Acinetobacter sp., Bordetella hinzii, Burkholderia fungorum, Comamonas testosteroni, Chryseobacterium sp., Herbaspirillum sp., Moraxella osloensis, Pandoraea genomospecies 4, Ralstonia gilardii, Ralstonia mannitolilytica, Rhizobium radiobacter, and Xanthomonas sp. In addition, one isolate most likely represents a novel Ralstonia species, whereas nine isolates belong to novel taxa within the alpha-PROTEOBACTERIA: Eight of these latter isolates are classified into the novel genus Inquilinus gen. nov. as Inquilinus limosus gen. nov., sp. nov., or as Inquilinus sp. The remaining 17 isolates are characterized as members of the family ENTEROBACTERIACEAE: The recovery of these species suggests that the CF lung is an ecological niche capable of supporting the growth of a wide variety of bacteria rarely seen in clinical samples. Elucidation of the factors that account for the association between these unusual species and the respiratory tract of CF patients may provide important insights into the pathophysiology of CF infection. Because accurate identification of these organisms in the clinical microbiology laboratory may be problematic, the present study highlights the utility of reference laboratories capable of identifying unusual species recovered from CF sputum.

Long-Distance Dispersal by Sea-Drifted Seeds Has Maintained the Global Distribution of Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis (Convolvulaceae)

PubMed Central

Miryeganeh, Matin; Takayama, Koji; Tateishi, Yoichi; Kajita, Tadashi

2014-01-01

Ipomoea pes-caprae (Convolvulaceae), a pantropical plant with sea-drifted seeds, is found globally in the littoral areas of tropical and subtropical regions. Unusual long-distance seed dispersal has been believed to be responsible for its extraordinarily wide distribution; however, the actual level of inter-population migration has never been studied. To clarify the level of migration among populations of I. pes-caprae across its range, we investigated nucleotide sequence variations by using seven low-copy nuclear markers and 272 samples collected from 34 populations that cover the range of the species. We applied coalescent-based approaches using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods to assess migration rates, direction of migration, and genetic diversity among five regional populations. Our results showed a high number of migrants among the regional populations of I. pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis, which suggests that migration among distant populations was maintained by long-distance seed dispersal across its global range. These results also provide strong evidence for recent trans-oceanic seed dispersal by ocean currents in all three oceanic regions. We also found migration crossing the American continents. Although this is an apparent land barrier for sea-dispersal, migration between populations of the East Pacific and West Atlantic regions was high, perhaps because of trans-isthmus migration via pollen dispersal. Therefore, the migration and gene flow among populations across the vast range of I. pes-caprae is maintained not only by seed dispersal by sea-drifted seeds, but also by pollen flow over the American continents. On the other hand, populations of subsp. pes-caprae that are restricted to only the northern part of the Indian Ocean region were highly differentiated from subsp. brasiliensis. Cryptic barriers that prevented migration by sea dispersal between the ranges of the two subspecies and/or historical differentiation that caused local adaptation to different environmental factors in each region could explain the genetic differentiation between the subspecies. PMID:24755614

Nano-structured calcite produced by micro-organisms in ancient and modern loess in Chinese Loess Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, H.; Chen, T.; Lu, H.; Wang, X.

2005-12-01

The results from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission gun scanning microscopy (FEG-SEM) investigation show that there are calcite nano-fibers (CNFs) formed during pedogenic process. The CNFs are widely distributed in the loess and red clay samples of Caoxian, Luochuan, Lingtai, Lantian, and Xifeng profiles as well as the samples of modern surface loess soils in Chinese Loess Plateau. Diameters of all the NFCs are about 40 nm, the length of the CNFs ranges from tens nanometer to several micrometers. Elongation direction of NFCs is unusual near parallel (105)* or (115)*. Crystals of NFCs arrange as bird net like and lattice-like frameworks. X-ray EDS spectra show the weak peaks of magnesium, phosphorous, and sulfur. Our investigation indicates that CNFs are in pore space of loess and paleosol and made up most of carbonate except for caliche nodular layers. Concentration of NFCs in the loess layers are significantly higher than those of paleosol layers because of leaching of carbonate in the paleosol forming environment (warn and wet paleoclimate). The "nanobacteria-like CNFs are well crystalline calcite single crystals with smoothes surfaces. The morphologies of CNFs are very unusual and different from the calcite single crystals observed in most geological environments. The CNFs are directly related to microbial activities in both ancient and modern loess. It is proposed that the intervention of organic compounds derived from microbial activities control the formation of the calcite nano-fibers. Both morphology and bulk composition of CNFs indicate that the formation of the CNFs involves bio-organics derived from microorganisms in loess deposit environment. Formation conditions of the calcite nano-fibers may information about paleoclimate, paleo-environment and paleoecology. So, the discovery of CNFs in loess-paloesol sequences can provide a new route for reconstruct paleoclimate by oxygen and carbon isotope from the CNFs.

Petrological and experimental evidence for differentiation of water-rich magmas beneath St. Kitts, Lesser Antilles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melekhova, Elena; Blundy, Jon; Martin, Rita; Arculus, Richard; Pichavant, Michel

2017-12-01

St. Kitts lies in the northern Lesser Antilles, a subduction-related intraoceanic volcanic arc known for its magmatic diversity and unusually abundant cognate xenoliths. We combine the geochemistry of xenoliths, melt inclusions and lavas with high pressure-temperature experiments to explore magma differentiation processes beneath St. Kitts. Lavas range from basalt to rhyolite, with predominant andesites and basaltic andesites. Xenoliths, dominated by calcic plagioclase and amphibole, typically in reaction relationship with pyroxenes and olivine, can be divided into plutonic and cumulate varieties based on mineral textures and compositions. Cumulate varieties, formed primarily by the accumulation of liquidus phases, comprise ensembles that represent instantaneous solid compositions from one or more magma batches; plutonic varieties have mineralogy and textures consistent with protracted solidification of magmatic mush. Mineral chemistry in lavas and xenoliths is subtly different. For example, plagioclase with unusually high anorthite content (An≤100) occurs in some plutonic xenoliths, whereas the most calcic plagioclase in cumulate xenoliths and lavas are An97 and An95, respectively. Fluid-saturated, equilibrium crystallisation experiments were performed on a St. Kitts basaltic andesite, with three different fluid compositions ( XH2O = 1.0, 0.66 and 0.33) at 2.4 kbar, 950-1025 °C, and fO2 = NNO - 0.6 to NNO + 1.2 log units. Experiments reproduce lava liquid lines of descent and many xenolith assemblages, but fail to match xenolith and lava phenocryst mineral compositions, notably the very An-rich plagioclase. The strong positive correlation between experimentally determined plagioclase-melt KdCa-Na and dissolved H2O in the melt, together with the occurrence of Al-rich mafic lavas, suggests that parental magmas were water-rich (> 9 wt% H2O) basaltic andesites that crystallised over a wide pressure range (1.5-6 kbar). Comparison of experimental and natural (lava, xenolith) mafic mineral composition reveals that whereas olivine in lavas is predominantly primocrysts precipitated at low-pressure, pyroxenes and spinel are predominantly xenocrysts formed by disaggregation of plutonic mushes. Overall, St. Kitts xenoliths and lavas testify to mid-crustal differentiation of low-MgO basalt and basaltic andesite magmas within a trans-crustal, magmatic mush system. Lower crustal ultramafic cumulates that relate parental low-MgO basalts to primary, mantle -derived melts are absent on St. Kitts.

Unusual concentration-dependent microscopic dynamics of dendrimers in aqueous solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, Kaikin; Wu, Chin Ming; Lam, Hak Fai; Chathoth, Suresh M.

2016-05-01

Dendrimers are novel three-dimensional, hyperbranched globular nanopolymeric macromolecules. The nanoscopic size, narrow polydispersity index, excellent control over molecular structure, availability of multiple functional groups at the periphery, and cavities in the interior made them very attractive candidate for drug delivery. In this communication, we have studied the microscopic dynamics of tetra-acid and pentaerythritol glycidyl ether dendrimers dissolved in aqueous solution with different concentrations. The effects of concentration and temperature to their long-range diffusion process are investigated by dynamic light scattering. Experimental results show a huge variation in the translational diffusion coefficient for the two dendrimers samples. Besides, the dependence of diffusion coefficients on concentration is unusually different in these dendrimer samples. Although the diffusion process follows Arrhenius relation with the temperature in both systems, the activation energy for the diffusion process has a distinct concentration dependence.

Aging and unusual catecholamine-containing structures in the mouse brain.

PubMed

Masuoka, D T; Jonsson, G; Finch, C E

1979-06-22

Brains of C57BL/6J mice, aged 4, 8 and 20--29 months, were examined by the Falck-Hillarp histochemical fluorescence technique. Numerous large, intensely fluorescent green to yellow-green spots (LIFS) were observed in the brains of senescent mice. LIFS were generally round to ovoid in shape and ranged in size from about 10 micrometer to about 30 micrometer. Histochemical and pharmacological procedures and spectral analysis indicated that the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence of the LIFS was due to the presence of catecholamines (CA) rather than aging pigment. Their distribution in the brain suggests an association with nerve axons or terminals rather than cell bodies. The number of LIFS in the hypothalamus increased progressively during aging. It is proposed that LIFS may represent age-related, unusual CA accumulation in enlargements proximal to axonal or terminal portions undergoing spontaneous degeneration.

Anomalous frequency-dependent ionic conductivity of lesion-laden human-brain tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emin, David; Akhtari, Massoud; Fallah, Aria; Vinters, Harry V.; Mathern, Gary W.

2017-10-01

We study the effect of lesions on our four-electrode measurements of the ionic conductivity of (˜1 cm3) samples of human brain excised from patients undergoing pediatric epilepsy surgery. For most (˜94%) samples, the low-frequency ionic conductivity rises upon increasing the applied frequency. We attributed this behavior to the long-range (˜0.4 mm) diffusion of solvated sodium cations before encountering intrinsic impenetrable blockages such as cell membranes, blood vessels, and cell walls. By contrast, the low-frequency ionic conductivity of some (˜6%) brain-tissue samples falls with increasing applied frequency. We attribute this unusual frequency-dependence to the electric-field induced liberation of sodium cations from traps introduced by the unusually severe pathology observed in samples from these patients. Thus, the anomalous frequency-dependence of the ionic conductivity indicates trap-producing brain lesions.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Complex Carbohydrate-Degrading Marine Bacterium, Saccharophagus degradans Strain 2-40T

PubMed Central

Weiner, Ronald M.; Taylor, Larry E.; Henrissat, Bernard; Hauser, Loren; Land, Miriam; Coutinho, Pedro M.; Rancurel, Corinne; Saunders, Elizabeth H.; Longmire, Atkinson G.; Zhang, Haitao; Bayer, Edward A.; Gilbert, Harry J.; Larimer, Frank; Zhulin, Igor B.; Ekborg, Nathan A.; Lamed, Raphael; Richardson, Paul M.; Borovok, Ilya; Hutcheson, Steven

2008-01-01

The marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans strain 2-40 (Sde 2-40) is emerging as a vanguard of a recently discovered group of marine and estuarine bacteria that recycles complex polysaccharides. We report its complete genome sequence, analysis of which identifies an unusually large number of enzymes that degrade >10 complex polysaccharides. Not only is this an extraordinary range of catabolic capability, many of the enzymes exhibit unusual architecture including novel combinations of catalytic and substrate-binding modules. We hypothesize that many of these features are adaptations that facilitate depolymerization of complex polysaccharides in the marine environment. This is the first sequenced genome of a marine bacterium that can degrade plant cell walls, an important component of the carbon cycle that is not well-characterized in the marine environment. PMID:18516288

First-Principles Correlated Approach to the Normal State of Strontium Ruthenate

PubMed Central

Acharya, S.; Laad, M. S.; Dey, Dibyendu; Maitra, T.; Taraphder, A.

2017-01-01

The interplay between multiple bands, sizable multi-band electronic correlations and strong spin-orbit coupling may conspire in selecting a rather unusual unconventional pairing symmetry in layered Sr2RuO4. This mandates a detailed revisit of the normal state and, in particular, the T-dependent incoherence-coherence crossover. Using a modern first-principles correlated view, we study this issue in the actual structure of Sr2RuO4 and present a unified and quantitative description of a range of unusual physical responses in the normal state. Armed with these, we propose that a new and important element, that of dominant multi-orbital charge fluctuations in a Hund’s metal, may be a primary pair glue for unconventional superconductivity. Thereby we establish a connection between the normal state responses and superconductivity in this system. PMID:28220879

Dark matter and the equivalence principle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frieman, Joshua A.; Gradwohl, Ben-Ami

1991-01-01

If the dark matter in galaxies and clusters is nonbaryonic, it can interact with additional long-range fields that are invisible to experimental tests of the equivalence principle. The astrophysical and cosmological implications of a long-range force coupled only to the dark matter are discussed and rather tight constraints on its strength are found. If the force is repulsive (attractive), the masses of galaxy groups and clusters (and the mean density of the universe inferred from them) have been systematically underestimated (overestimated). Such an interaction also has unusual implications for the growth of large-scale structure.

Circularly polarized luminescence of syndiotactic polystyrene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rizzo, Paola; Abbate, Sergio; Longhi, Giovanna; Guerra, Gaetano

2017-11-01

Syndiotactic polystyrene (s-PS) films, when crystallized from the amorphous state by temporary sorption of non-racemic guest molecules (like carvone) not only exhibit unusually high optical activity, both in the UV-Visible and Infrared ranges, but also present circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with high dissymmetry ratios (g = ΔI/I values in the range 0.02-0.03). Experimental evidences provide support, rather than to the usual molecular circular dichroism, to a supramolecular chiral optical response being extrinsic to the site of photon absorption and emission, possibly associated with a helical morphology of s-PS crystallites.

Recovery from unusual attitudes: HUD vs. back-up display in a static F/A-18 simulator.

PubMed

Huber, Samuel W

2006-04-01

Spatial disorientation (SD) remains one of the most important causes of fatal fighter aircraft accidents. The aim of this study was to give a recommendation for the use of the head-up display (HUD) or back-up attitude directional indicator (ADI) in a state of spatial disorientation based on the respective performance in an unusual attitude recovery task. Seven fighter pilots joining a conversion course to the F/A-18 participated in this study. Flight time will be presented as range (and mean in parentheses). Total military flight experience of the subjects was 835-1759 h (1412 h). Flight time on the F/A-18 was 41-123 h (70 h). The study was performed in a fixed base F/A-18D Weapons Tactics Trainer. We tested the recovery from 11 unusual attitudes and analyzed decision time (DT), total recovery time (TRT), and error rates for the HUD or the back-up ADI. We found no differences regarding either reaction times or error rates. For the HUD we found a DT (mean +/- SD) of 1.3 +/- 0.4 s, a TRT of 9.1 +/- 4.1 s, and an error rate of 29%. For the ADI the respective values were a DT of 1.4 +/- 0.4 s, a TRT of 8.3 +/- 3.8 s, and an error rate of 27%. Unusual attitude recoveries are performed equally well using the HUD or the back-up ADI. Switching from one instrument to the other during recovery should be avoided since it would probably result in a loss of time without benefit.

Unusual masturbatory practice as an etiological factor in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction in young men.

PubMed

Bronner, Gila; Ben-Zion, Itzhak Z

2014-07-01

Masturbation is a common sexual activity among people of all ages throughout life. It has been traditionally prohibited and judged as immoral and sinful by several religions. Although it is no longer perceived as a negative behavior, masturbation is often omitted in the diagnostic inquiry of patients with sexual problems. The aims of this study are to increase the awareness of clinicians to the importance of including questions regarding masturbatory habits in the process of sexual history taking, to analyze cases of male sexual dysfunction (SD) associated with unusual masturbatory practices, and to propose a practical tool for clinicians to diagnose and manage such problems. A clinical study of four cases that include a range of unusual masturbatory practices by young males who applied for sex therapy is described. An intervention plan involving specific questions in case history taking was devised. It was based on detailed understanding of each patient's masturbatory practice and its manifestation in his SD. Effects of identifying and altering masturbatory practices on sexual function. The four men described unusual and awkward masturbatory practices, each of which was associated with different kinds of SD. The unlearning of the masturbatory practices contributed notably to improvement of their sexual function. The four cases in this study indicate that the detailed questioning of masturbatory habits is crucial for a thorough assessment and adequate treatment of sexual problems in men. We propose specific questions on masturbatory behavior as well as a diagnostic and therapeutic flowchart for physicians and sex therapists to address those problems. © 2014 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

Ceramic materials with low thermal conductivity and low coefficients of thermal expansion

DOEpatents

Brown, Jesse; Hirschfeld, Deidre; Liu, Dean-Mo; Yang, Yaping; Li, Tingkai; Swanson, Robert E.; Van Aken, Steven; Kim, Jin-Min

1992-01-01

Compositions having the general formula (Ca.sub.x Mg.sub.1-x)Zr.sub.4 (PO.sub.4).sub.6 where x is between 0.5 and 0.99 are produced by solid state and sol-gel processes. In a preferred embodiment, when x is between 0.5 and 0.8, the MgCZP materials have near-zero coefficients of thermal expansion. The MgCZPs of the present invention also show unusually low thermal conductivities, and are stable at high temperatures. Macrostructures formed from MgCZP are useful in a wide variety of high-temperature applications. In a preferred process, calcium, magnesium, and zirconium nitrate solutions have their pH adjusted to between 7 and 9 either before or after the addition of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. After dehydration to a gel, and calcination at temperatures in excess of 850.degree. C. for approximately 16 hours, single phase crystalline MgCZP powders with particle sizes ranging from approximately 20 nm to 50 nm result. The MgCZP powders are then sintered at temperatures ranging from 1200.degree. C. to 1350.degree. C. to form solid macrostructures with near-zero bulk coefficients of thermal expansion and low thermal conductivities. Porous macrostructures of the MgCZP powders of the present invention are also formed by combination with a polymeric powder and a binding agent, and sintering at high temperatures. The porosity of the resulting macrostructures can be adjusted by varying the particle size of the polymeric powder used.

Colors and Photometry of Bright Materials on Vesta as Seen by the Dawn Framing Camera

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schroeder, S. E.; Li, J.-Y.; Mittlefehldt, D. W.; Pieters, C. M.; De Sanctis, M. C.; Hiesinger, H.; Blewett, D. T.; Russell, C. T.; Raymond, C. A.; Keller, H. U.;

Ceramic materials with low thermal conductivity and low coefficients of thermal expansion

DOEpatents

Brown, J.; Hirschfeld, D.; Liu, D.M.; Yang, Y.; Li, T.; Swanson, R.E.; Van Aken, S.; Kim, J.M.

1992-04-07

Compositions, having the general formula (Ca[sub x]Mg[sub 1[minus]x])Zr[sub 4](PO[sub 4])[sub 6] where x is between 0.5 and 0.99, are produced by solid state and sol-gel processes. In a preferred embodiment, when x is between 0.5 and 0.8, the MgCZP materials have near-zero coefficients of thermal expansion. The MgCZPs of the present invention also show unusually low thermal conductivities, and are stable at high temperatures. Macrostructures formed from MgCZP are useful in a wide variety of high-temperature applications. In a preferred process, calcium, magnesium, and zirconium nitrate solutions have their pH adjusted to between 7 and 9 either before or after the addition of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. After dehydration to a gel, and calcination at temperatures in excess of 850 C for approximately 16 hours, single phase crystalline MgCZP powders with particle sizes ranging from approximately 20 nm to 50 nm result. The MgCZP powders are then sintered at temperatures ranging from 1200 C to 1350 C to form solid macrostructures with near-zero bulk coefficients of thermal expansion and low thermal conductivities. Porous macrostructures of the MgCZP powders of the present invention are also formed by combination with a polymeric powder and a binding agent, and sintering at high temperatures. The porosity of the resulting macrostructures can be adjusted by varying the particle size of the polymeric powder used. 7 figs.

Genome-wide Analysis Reveals Extensive Functional Interaction between DNA Replication Initiation and Transcription in the Genome of Trypanosoma brucei

PubMed Central

Tiengwe, Calvin; Marcello, Lucio; Farr, Helen; Dickens, Nicholas; Kelly, Steven; Swiderski, Michal; Vaughan, Diane; Gull, Keith; Barry, J. David; Bell, Stephen D.; McCulloch, Richard

2012-01-01

Summary Identification of replication initiation sites, termed origins, is a crucial step in understanding genome transmission in any organism. Transcription of the Trypanosoma brucei genome is highly unusual, with each chromosome comprising a few discrete transcription units. To understand how DNA replication occurs in the context of such organization, we have performed genome-wide mapping of the binding sites of the replication initiator ORC1/CDC6 and have identified replication origins, revealing that both localize to the boundaries of the transcription units. A remarkably small number of active origins is seen, whose spacing is greater than in any other eukaryote. We show that replication and transcription in T. brucei have a profound functional overlap, as reducing ORC1/CDC6 levels leads to genome-wide increases in mRNA levels arising from the boundaries of the transcription units. In addition, ORC1/CDC6 loss causes derepression of silent Variant Surface Glycoprotein genes, which are critical for host immune evasion. PMID:22840408

Champagne flutes and brandy snifters: modelling protostellar outflow-cloud chemical interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rollins, R. P.; Rawlings, J. M. C.; Williams, D. A.; Redman, M. P.

2014-10-01

A rich variety of molecular species has now been observed towards hot cores in star-forming regions and in the interstellar medium. An increasing body of evidence from millimetre interferometers suggests that many of these form at the interfaces between protostellar outflows and their natal molecular clouds. However, current models have remained unable to explain the origin of the observational bias towards wide-angled `brandy snifter' shaped outflows over narrower `champagne flute' shapes in carbon monoxide imaging. Furthermore, these wide-angled systems exhibit unusually high abundances of the molecular ion HCO+. We present results from a chemodynamic model of such regions where a rich chemistry arises naturally as a result of turbulent mixing between cold, dense molecular gas and the hot, ionized outflow material. The injecta drives a rich and rapid ion-neutral chemistry in qualitative and quantitative agreement with the observations. The observational bias towards wide-angled outflows is explained naturally by the geometry-dependent ion injection rate causing rapid dissociation of CO in the younger systems.

Breast abscess due to Finegoldia magna in a non-puerperal women.

PubMed

Cobo, Fernando; Rodríguez-Granger, Javier; Sampedro, Antonio; Navarro-Marí, José María

2017-10-01

Finegoldia magna is a Gram-positive anaerobic coccus involved in a wide variety of infections. We report a unusual case of breast abscess in a non-puerperal patient. A 46-year-old woman presented with pain and a nodular lesion in the left breast. Culture of abscess drainage resulted in isolation of F. magna. Initial treatment with clindamycin was changed to a definitive treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate for 10 days due to resistance to clindamycin, and improvement of this infection was documented. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ocular changes with oxaliplatin.

PubMed

O'Dea, Denise; Handy, Catherine M; Wexler, Ann

2006-04-01

Ocular toxicity, although uncommon, can occur with many chemotherapeutic agents. Platinum compounds have been documented to produce a variety of ocular side effects, and reports have been made of ocular toxicity with oxaliplatin. This article reports on four patients who experienced ocular symptoms while receiving oxaliplatin. The symptoms included tunnel vision and visual loss with postural changes. One patient had objective findings that included papilledema. All of the changes were reversible. Oxaliplatin will continue to be used widely, so clinicians treating patients with it must be alert for unusual toxicities such as those described in this article.

Talking to Teenagers: Using Anthropological Methods to Explore Identity and the Lifeworlds of Young People Who Use AAC

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wickenden, Mary

2011-01-01

The article outlines the methodology used in an ethnographic study of identity with teenagers who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). It is unusual to investigate this population in naturalistic contexts using qualitative methods. Nine individuals are studied, in a range of contexts using ethnography as the main method. The…

Concept For Generation Of Long Pseudorandom Sequences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, C. C.

1990-01-01

Conceptual very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) digital circuit performs exponentiation in finite field. Algorithm that generates unusually long sequences of pseudorandom numbers executed by digital processor that includes such circuits. Concepts particularly advantageous for such applications as spread-spectrum communications, cryptography, and generation of ranging codes, synthetic noise, and test data, where usually desirable to make pseudorandom sequences as long as possible.

Playing Smart: The Family Guide to Enriching, Offbeat Learning Activities for Ages 4-14. Revised, Expanded and Updated Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perry, Susan K.

Noting children's need for enrichment at home, this book offers hundreds of unusual ways for children and parents to spend time together. Using this book as a guide, parents and children can survey new subjects ranging from cultural diversity to photography, journal keeping, psychology, food science, gardening, and sports science. The activities…

Playing Smart: A Parent's Guide to Enriching, Offbeat Learning Activities for Ages 4-14.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perry, Susan K.; Espeland, Pamela, Ed.

Recognizing that children need enrichment at home, this book offers hundreds of unusual ways for kids and parents to spend time together. It also demonstrates the fun people can have while learning, and the learning that goes on while having fun. Using this book as a guide, parents and children can survey new subjects ranging from cultural…

Therapy Dogs in Academic Libraries: A Way to Foster Student Engagement and Mitigate Self-Reported Stress during Finals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jalongo, Mary Renck; McDevitt, Theresa

2015-01-01

More and more modern academic libraries are turning to student engagement activities designed to welcome students into Academia, join a community of scholars, and avail themselves of the full range of resources and services that a university library can provide. One unusual, but inexpensive and highly effective method of engaging students is…

Pulmonary consequences of aspiration.

PubMed

Terry, P B; Fuller, S D

1989-01-01

Aspiration can lead to serious pulmonary disease and occasionally death. Substances aspirated commonly include bacteria or gastric contents or both, but may be as unusual as diesel oil or a variety of foreign bodies. Pulmonary symptoms range from a subtle cough, wheezing, or hoarseness to severe dyspnea or asphyxiation. We discuss the mechanism of pulmonary disease caused by aspiration as well as the appropriate treatment.

Water Intake and Risk of Hyponatraemia in Prader-Willi Syndrome

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akefeldt, A.

2009-01-01

Background and Methods: Unusual water intake and drinking behaviour has occasionally been observed in individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The aim of this study is to explore whether this observation is a part of the PWS phenotype and what the consequences may be. The parents of 51 individuals with PWS (age range 2-40 years) were asked by…

Identification and Calculation of the Three-Dimensional Orbit of an Asteroid

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pereira, Vincent; Millan, Justin; Martin, Emerick

2013-01-01

Asteroids are clumps of rock, the sizes of which range from less than a kilometer to a few hundred kilometers in diameter. They are generally found in the unusually large gap between Mars and Jupiter. There are probably more than 40,000 asteroids in this gap called the "asteroid belt." In this paper we describe our efforts in confirming…

Evidence of Electron-Hole Imbalance in WTe2 from High-Resolution Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chen-Lu; Zhang, Yan; Huang, Jian-Wei; Liu, Guo-Dong; Liang, Ai-Ji; Zhang, Yu-Xiao; Shen, Bing; Liu, Jing; Hu, Cheng; Ding, Ying; Liu, De-Fa; Hu, Yong; He, Shao-Long; Zhao, Lin; Yu, Li; Hu, Jin; Wei, Jiang; Mao, Zhi-Qiang; Shi, You-Guo; Jia, Xiao-Wen; Zhang, Feng-Feng; Zhang, Shen-Jin; Yang, Feng; Wang, Zhi-Min; Peng, Qin-Jun; Xu, Zu-Yan; Chen, Chuang-Tian; Zhou, Xing-Jiang

2017-08-01

WTe2 has attracted a great deal of attention because it exhibits extremely large and nonsaturating magnetoresistance. The underlying origin of such a giant magnetoresistance is still under debate. Utilizing laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with high energy and momentum resolutions, we reveal the complete electronic structure of WTe2. This makes it possible to determine accurately the electron and hole concentrations and their temperature dependence. We find that, with increasing the temperature, the overall electron concentration increases while the total hole concentration decreases. It indicates that the electron-hole compensation, if it exists, can only occur in a narrow temperature range, and in most of the temperature range there is an electron-hole imbalance. Our results are not consistent with the perfect electron-hole compensation picture that is commonly considered to be the cause of the unusual magnetoresistance in WTe2. We identified a flat band near the Brillouin zone center that is close to the Fermi level and exhibits a pronounced temperature dependence. Such a flat band can play an important role in dictating the transport properties of WTe2. Our results provide new insight on understanding the origin of the unusual magnetoresistance in WTe2.

Impact, Spreading and Splashing of Superfluid Drops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taborek, Peter; Wallace, Mattew; Mallin, David; Aguirre, Andres; Langley, Kenneth; Thoroddsen, Sigurdur

2017-11-01

We investigate the impact of superfluid and normal liquid helium drops onto glass plates, in a custom-made optical cryostat, over a temperature range from 1.3 - 5 K. The unusual properties of liquid helium allow us to explore ranges of parameters that are difficult to obtain in conventional systems. Even in the normal state with T >2.17K, the viscosity and surface tension of liquid helium are unusually low, so it is easy to prepare drops with Re >30,000 and We >500. We track the spreading radius of the fluid rim, which initially grows as a power law in time with an exponent of 0.5 , while transitioning to Tanner's law at later times. In the superfluid state the rim velocity can exceed 4 m/s, which is significantly higher than the superfluid critical velocity. Here we see no splashing even at Re >100,000. Our experiments take place in an atmosphere of helium gas. In conventional impact splashing the exterior air is incondensable, while our impacts in helium involve a condensable exterior phase, so the dynamics can be expected to be quite different. We study how these differences affect the splashing.

The First Stars: A Low-Mass Formation Mode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stacy, Athena; Bromm, Volker

2014-01-01

We perform numerical simulations of the growth of a Population III stellar system under photodissociating feedback. We start from cosmological initial conditions at z = 100, self-consistently following the formation of a minihalo at z = 15 and the subsequent collapse of its central gas to high densities. The simulations resolve scales as small as approx. 1 AU, corresponding to gas densities of 10(exp 16)/cu cm. Using sink particles to represent the growing protostars, we evolve the stellar system for the next 5000 yr. We find that this emerging stellar group accretes at an unusually low rate compared with minihalos which form at earlier times (z = 20-30), or with lower baryonic angular momentum. The stars in this unusual system will likely reach masses ranging from <1Stellar Mass to approx. 5 Stellar Mass by the end of their main-sequence lifetimes, placing them in the mass range for which stars will undergo an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase. Based upon the simulation, we predict the rare existence of Population III stars that have survived to the present day and have been enriched by mass overflow from a previous AGB companion.

An Unusual Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage Reaction During Phosphinothricin Biosynthesis

PubMed Central

Cicchillo, Robert M.; Zhang, Houjin; Blodgett, Joshua A.V.; Whitteck, John T.; Li, Gongyong; Nair, Satish K.; van der Donk, Wilfred A.; Metcalf, William W.

2010-01-01

Natural products containing phosphorus-carbon bonds have found widespread use in medicine and agriculture1. One such compound, phosphinothricin tripeptide (PTT), contains the unusual amino acid phosphinothricin (PT) attached to two alanine residues (Fig. 1). Synthetic PT (glufosinate) is a component of two top-selling herbicides (Basta® and Liberty®), and is widely used with resistant transgenic crops including corn, cotton and canola. Recent genetic and biochemical studies showed that during PTT biosynthesis 2-hydroxyethylphosphonate (HEP) is converted to hydroxymethylphosphonate (HMP) (Fig. 1)2. Reported here are the in vitro reconstitution of this unprecedented C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond cleavage reaction and X-ray crystal structures of the enzyme. The protein is a mononuclear non-heme iron(II)-dependent dioxygenase that converts HEP to HMP and formate. In contrast to most other members of this family, the oxidative consumption of HEP does not require additional cofactors or the input of exogenous electrons. The current study expands the scope of reactions catalyzed by the 2-His-1-carboxylate mononuclear non-heme iron family of enzymes. PMID:19516340

Origin of dolomitic rocks in the lower Permian Fengcheng formation, Junggar Basin, China: evidence from petrology and geochemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Shifa; Qin, Yi; Liu, Xin; Wei, Chengjie; Zhu, Xiaomin; Zhang, Wei

2017-04-01

Although dolomitization of calcite minerals and carbonatization of volcanic rocks have been studied widely, the extensive dolomitic rocks that originated from altered volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks have not been reported. The dolomitic rocks of the Fengcheng Formation in the Junggar Basin of China appear to be formed under unusual geologic conditions. The petrological and geochemical characteristics indicate that the dolomitizing host rock is devitrified volcanic tuff. After low-temperature alteration and calcitization, these tuffaceous rocks are replaced by Mg-rich brine to form massive dolomitic tuffs. We propose that the briny (with -2 ‰ 6 ‰ of δ13CPDB and -5 ‰ 4 ‰ of δ18OPDB) and Mg-rich marine formation water (with 0.7060 0.7087 of 87Sr/86Sr ratio), the thick and intermediate-mafic volcanic ashes, and the tectonically compressional movement may have favored the formation of the unusual dolomitic rocks. We conclude that the proposed origin of the dolomitic rocks can be extrapolated to other similar terranes with volcaniclastic rocks, seabed tuffaceous sediment, and fracture filling of sill.

Locally aggressive and multifocal phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors: two unusual cases of tumor-induced osteomalacia.

PubMed

Higley, Meghan; Beckett, Brooke; Schmahmann, Sandra; Dacey, Elizabeth; Foss, Erik

2015-12-01

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) has long been recognized as a clinical paraneoplastic syndrome. The identification of a unique histopathologic entity, the phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT), as a distinct etiology for TIO has been a more recent discovery. The majority of published cases describe a solitary, non-aggressive appearing soft tissue or osseous lesions in patients with osteomalacia; aggressive appearing or multifocal lesions appear to be exceedingly rare. These tumors characteristically secrete fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). Elevated serum levels of FGF23 result in phosphate wasting and osteomalacia. In the majority of cases, laboratory abnormalities and clinical signs and symptoms of osteomalacia precede identification of the causative lesion by years. Following diagnosis, complete resection with wide margins to prevent local recurrence is most often curative. Imaging characteristics of PMT are diverse and remain incompletely defined, as the majority of previous publications are outside of the radiologic literature. We present multiple imaging modalities in two cases of patients with debilitating osteomalacia and unusual appearing PMTs: one with a locally aggressive lesion leading to pathologic fracture, the second presenting with exceedingly rare multifocal PMT.

Contact allergy caused by isothiazolinone derivatives: an overview of non-cosmetic and unusual cosmetic sources.

PubMed

Aerts, Olivier; Goossens, An; Lambert, Julien; Lepoittevin, Jean-Pierre

2017-04-01

The isothiazolinone derivatives, methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), methylisothiazolinone (MI), benzisothiazolinone (BIT), and octylisothiazolinone (OIT), owing to their strong bactericide, fungicide and algicide properties, are widely used in non-cosmetic products, such as chemical (industrial) products, household detergents, and water-based paints, and the former two derivatives are also used in cosmetic products. However, given their inherent sensitization potential (with MCI > MI > BIT > OIT), allergic contact dermatitis is frequently observed, both in consumers as well as workers in various industries. In this review, we provide an update on the use of MCI/MI and MI in cosmetics, highlighting certain aspects of MI; the use of excessive concentrations, the presence in some less familiar cosmetic products, and the association with unusual clinical manifestations. Furthermore, the use of isothiazolinones in dish-washing and washing-machine liquids, cleaning agents for dental care, and their general presence in multi-purpose household detergents, which may elicit (airborne) allergic contact dermatitis, is discussed. Finally, we provide a brief overview of the use of isothiazolinone derivatives in the paint and textile industry, and of OIT in the leather industry in particular.

Thermoelectric properties and chemical potential tuning by Cu-doping in n-type ionic conductors CuxAg2-xSe0.5Te0.5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Min Ho; Yun, Jae Hyun; Ahn, Kyunghan; Rhyee, Jong-Soo

2017-12-01

Copper and silver chalcogenides with superionic conduction behavior have shown impressively high ZT values, but there has been no intensive effort to optimize their carrier density to further improve their ZT values. Here, we prepared polycrystalline CuxAg2-xSe0.5Te0.5 (x = 0.01, 0.05, 0.1) samples using high temperature melting followed by hot-press sintering, and characterized their thermoelectric properties. We demonstrated that Cu substitution for Ag was achieved with <10% Cu content for CuxAg2-xSe0.5Te0.5 and the Cu doping was quite effective and significantly enhanced the compound's n-type carrier density, which was one order of magnitude higher than the pristine Ag2Se0.5Te0.5 (4.10 × 1018 cm-3). Impressively, the enhancement in electrical conductivity with increasing Cu content was greater than the decrease in absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient in the superionic conduction state. This led to relatively high power factors for Cu0.1Ag1.99Se0.5Te0.5, ranging between 1.10 and 1.30 mW m-1 K-2 over the broad temperature range of 400-560 K, and resulted in the highest ZT of 0.85 at 560 K. Furthermore, ZT values approached >0.7 over a wide temperature range of 460-560 K for x > 0.05. We suggest that the unusual Cu doping effect in Ag2Se0.5Te0.5 can be attributed to the creation of Cu ion conduction in addition to Ag ion conduction, and the optimization of the compound's n-type carrier density.

Temporal variations in optical and microphysical properties of mineral dust and biomass burning aerosol derived from daytime Raman lidar observations over Warsaw, Poland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janicka, Lucja; Stachlewska, Iwona S.; Veselovskii, Igor; Baars, Holger

2017-11-01

In July 2013, favorable weather conditions caused a severe events of advection of biomass burning particles of Canadian forest fires to Europe. The smoke layers were widely observed, especially in Western Europe. An unusual atmospheric aerosol composition was measured at the EARLINET site in Warsaw, Central Poland, during a short event that occurred between 11 and 21 UTC on 10th July 2013. Additionally to the smoke layer, mineral dust was detected in a separate layer. The long-range dust transport pathway followed an uncommon way; originating in Western Sahara, passing above middle Atlantic, and circulating over British Islands, prior to its arrival to Poland. An effective radius of 560 nm was obtained for Saharan dust over Warsaw. This relatively small effective radius is likely due to the long time of the transport. The aerosol-polarization-Raman PollyXT-UW lidar was used for a successful daytime Raman retrieval of the aerosol optical properties at selected times during this short event. The aerosol vertical structure during the inflow over Warsaw in terms of optical properties and depolarization was analyzed, indicating clear distinction of the layers. The microphysical properties were inverted from the lidar derived optical data for selected ranges as representing the smoke and the mineral dust. For smoke, the effective radius was in the range of 0.29-0.36 μm and the complex refractive index 1.36 + 0.008i, on average. For dust, the values of 0.33-0.56 μm and 1.56 + 0.004i were obtained. An evolution of the aerosol composition over Warsaw during the day was analyzed.

Pikaia gracilens Walcott: stem chordate, or already specialized in the Cambrian?

PubMed

Mallatt, Jon; Holland, Nicholas

2013-06-01

For the past 35 years, the Cambrian fossil Pikaia gracilens was widely interpreted as a typical basal chordate based on short descriptions by Conway Morris. Recently, Conway Morris and Caron (CMC) (2012, Biol Rev 87:480-512) described Pikaia extensively, as a basis for new ideas about deuterostome evolution. This new Pikaia has characters with no clear homologues in other animals, so they could be phylogenetically uninformative autapomorphies. These characters include a dorsal organ, posterior ventral area, posterior fusiform structure, and anterior dorsal unit. Yet CMC interpret most of the unusual characters as primitive for chordates, thereby interpreting Pikaia as an even more convincing stem chordate than before. Moreover, they claim that segment (myomere) shape is a reliable guide for defining a chordate and even for assigning animals to their correct place in deuterostome phylogeny. By defining sigmoidal segments as a basal chordate character, they situate Pikaia at the base of the chordates and banish fossil yunnanozoans (which have straight segments) to a position deep within the deuterostomes. In addition, they consider amphioxus, with its conspicuously chevron-shaped segments, to be so highly derived that it is of little use for reconstructing the first chordates. We question their overemphasis on the phylogenetic value of segment shape and their marginalizing of amphioxus. We deduce that Pikaia, not amphioxus, is specialized. We performed a cladistic analysis that showed the character interpretations of CMC are consistent with their wide-ranging evolutionary scenario, but that these interpretations leave unresolved the position of Pikaia within chordates. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Transient galactic cosmic ray modulation during solar cycle 24: A comparative study of two prominent Forbush decrease events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lingling, Zhao; Huai, Zhang; Hongqing, He

2016-04-01

Forbush decrease (FD) events are of great interest for transient galactic cosmic ray modulation study. In this study, we perform statistical analysis of two prominent Forbush events during cycle 24, occurred on 8 March 2012 (Event 1) and 22 June 2015 (Event 2), respectively, utilizing the measurements from the worldwide neutron monitor (NM) network. Despite of their comparable magnitudes, the two Forbush events are distinctly different in terms of evolving GCR energy spectrum and energy dependence of the recovery time. The recovery time of Event 1 is strongly dependent on the median energy, compared to the nearly constant recovery time of Event 2 over the studied energy range. Additionally, while the evolution of the energy spectra during the two FD event exhibit similar variation pattern, the spectrum of Event 2 is very harder, especially at the time of deepest depression. These difference are essentially related to their associated solar wind disturbances. Event 1 is associated with a complicated shock-associated ICME structure of IP/Sheath/MC sequence with large radial extend and limited longitudinal extent (narrow and thick), probably merged from multiple shocks and transient flows. Conversely, Event 2 is accompanied by a relatively simple interplanetary disturbance of IP/Sheath/Ejecta sequence with small radial extend and wide longitudinal departure (wide and thin), possibly evolved from an over expanded CME. Such comparative study may help to clarify the occurrence mechanisms of Forbush events related to different types solar wind structures and provide valuable insight into the transient GCR modulation, especially during the unusual solar cycle 24.

Identification of cuticular lipids eliciting interspecific courtship in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eliyahu, Dorit; Nojima, Satoshi; Capracotta, Sonja S.; Comins, Daniel L.; Schal, Coby

2008-05-01

The cuticular surface of sexually mature females of the German cockroach contains a sex pheromone that, upon contact with the male’s antennae, elicits a characteristic species-specific courtship behavior. This female-specific pheromone is a blend of several long-chain methyl ketones, alcohols and aldehydes, all derived from prominent cuticular hydrocarbons found in all life stages of this cockroach. We found that contact with the antennae of 5 out of 20 assayed cockroach species elicited courtship behavior in German cockroach males. The heterospecific courtship-eliciting compounds were isolated by behaviorally guided fractionation of the active crude extracts and compared to the native sex pheromone components. We identified two active compounds from the cuticular extract of the Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis—11-methylheptacosan-2-one and 27-oxo-11-methylheptacosan-2-one; the former compound was confirmed by synthesis and proved to independently stimulate courtship in German cockroach males. These compounds share common features with, but are distinct from, any of the known contact sex pheromone components. This suggests that sex pheromone reception in the male German cockroach is unusually promiscuous, accepting a wide range of compounds that share certain features with its native pheromone, thus resulting in a broad spectrum of behavioral response to other species. We propose that several characteristics of their mating system—chiefly, absence of closely related species in the anthropogenic environment, resulting in relaxation of selection on sexual communication, and a highly male-biased operational sex ratio—have driven males to respond with extremely low thresholds to a wide spectrum of related compounds.

Geophysical Characterization of a Rare Earth Element Enriched Carbonatite Terrane at Mountain Pass, California Eastern Mojave Desert

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Denton, Kevin M.

Mountain Pass, California, located in the eastern Mojave Desert, hosts one of the world's richest rare earth element (REE) deposits. The REE-rich rocks occur in a 2.5 km- wide, north-northwest trending zone of Mesoproterozoic (1.4-1.42 Ga) stocks and dikes, which intrude a larger Paleoproterozoic (1.7 Ga) schist-gneiss terrane that extends 10 km southward from Clark Mountain to the Mescal Range. Several REE-enriched bodies make up the Mountain Pass intrusive suite including shonkinite, syenite, and granite comprising an ultrapotassic intrusive suite and the Sulphide Queen carbonatite body. Two-dimensional modeling of gravity, magnetic, and electrical resistivity data reveals that the Mountain Pass intrusive suite is associated with a local gravity high that is superimposed on a 4-km wide gravity terrace. Rock property data indicate that the Mountain Pass intrusive suite is unusually nonmagnetic at the surface (2.0 x 10-3 SI, n = 67). However, aeromagnetic data indicate that these rocks occur along the eastern edge of a prominent north-northwest trending aeromagnetic high of unknown origin. The source of this unknown magnetic anomaly is 2-3 km below the surface and coincides with a body of rock having high electrical conductivity. Electrical resistivity models indicate that this unknown magnetic anomaly is several orders of magnitude more conductive (103 O•m) than the surrounding rock. Combined geophysical data suggest that the carbonatite and its associated ultrapotassic intrusive suite were preferentially emplaced along a northwest zone of weakness and/or a fault.

The unusual history and the urological applications of botulinum neurotoxin.

PubMed

Hanchanale, Vishwanath S; Rao, Amrith Raj; Martin, Francis L; Matanhelia, Shyam S

2010-01-01

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is probably the most potent biological toxin that can affect humans. Since its discovery by Justinus Kerner, BoNT has seen use in a wide range of cosmetic and non-cosmetic conditions such as cervical dystonia, cerebral palsy, migraines and hyperhidrosis. We tried to trace its history from its inception to its recent urological applications. Historical articles about botulinum toxin were reviewed and a Medline search was performed for its urological utility. We hereby present a brief review of historical aspects of BoNT and its applications in urology. In 1793, the first known outbreak of botulism occurred due to 'spoiled' sausage in Wildebad, Germany. The German physician and poet Justinus Kerner published the first accurate description of the clinical symptoms of botulism (sausage poison). He was also the first to mention its potential therapeutic applications. In urology, BoNT has been used in bladder and urethral lesions with varying degree of success. Recently, BoNT applications were explained for prostatic disorders. BoNT applications in urology are in the treatment of detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia, detrusor overactivity, detrusor underactivity, spastic conditions of the urethral sphincter, chronic prostate pain, interstitial cystitis, non-fibrotic bladder outflow obstruction (including benign prostatic hyperplasia) and acute urinary retention in women. Justinus Kerner is the godfather of botulism research. The role of BoNT in urology has evolved exponentially and it is widely used as an adjuvant in voiding dysfunction. In the future, its utility will broaden and guide the urologist in managing various urological disorders. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Equation of state and shock compression of warm dense sodium—A first-principles study

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Shuai; Driver, Kevin P.; Soubiran, Francois; ...

2017-02-21

As one of the simple alkali metals, sodium has been of fundamental interest for shock physics experiments, but knowledge of its equation of state (EOS) in hot, dense regimes is not well known. By combining path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) results for partially ionized states at high temperatures and density functional theory molecular dynamics (DFT-MD) results at lower temperatures, we have constructed a coherent equation of state for sodium over a wide density-temperature range of 1.93-11.60 g/cm 3 and 10 3–1.29×10 8 K. We find that a localized, Hartree-Fock nodal structure in PIMC yields pressures and internal energies that aremore » consistent with DFT-MD at intermediate temperatures of 2×10 6 K. Since PIMC and DFT-MD provide a first-principles treatment of electron shell and excitation effects, we are able to identify two compression maxima in the shock Hugoniot curve corresponding to K-shell and L-shell ionization. Our Hugoniot curves provide a benchmark for widely used EOS models: SESAME, LEOS, and Purgatorio. Due to the low ambient density, sodium has an unusually high first compression maximum along the shock Hugoniot curve. At beyond 10 7 K, we show that the radiation effect leads to very high compression along the Hugoniot curve, surpassing relativistic corrections, and observe an increasing deviation of the shock and particle velocities from a linear relation. Here, we also compute the temperature-density dependence of thermal and pressure ionization processes.« less

Seismic images of the Brooks Range fold and thrust belt, Arctic Alaska, from an integrated seismic reflection/refraction experiment

USGS Publications Warehouse

Levander, A.; Fuis, G.S.; Wissinger, E.S.; Lutter, W.J.; Oldow, J.S.; Moore, Thomas E.

1994-01-01

We describe results of an integrated seismic reflection/refraction experiment across the Brooks Range and flanking geologic provinces in Arctic Alaska. The seismic acquisition was unusual in that reflection and refraction data were collected simultaneously with a 700 channel seismograph system deployed numerous times along a 315 km profile. Shot records show continuous Moho reflections from 0-180 km offset, as well as numerous upper- and mid-crustal wide-angle events. Single and low-fold near-vertical incidence common midpoint (CMP) reflection images show complex upper- and middle-crustal structure across the range from the unmetamorphosed Endicott Mountains allochthon (EMA) in the north, to the metamorphic belts in the south. Lower-crustal and Moho reflections are visible across the entire reflection profile. Travel-time inversion of PmP arrivals shows that the Moho, at 33 km depth beneath the North Slope foothills, deepens abruptly beneath the EMA to a maximum of 46 km, and then shallows southward to 35 km at the southern edge of the range. Two zones of upper- and middle-crustal reflections underlie the northern Brooks Range above ~ 12-15 km depth. The upper zone, interpreted as the base of the EMA, lies at a maximum depth of 6 km and extends over 50 km from the range front to the north central Brooks Range where the base of the EMA outcrops above the metasedimentary rocks exposed in the Doonerak window. We interpret the base of the lower zone, at ~ 12 km depth, to be from carbonate rocks above the master detachment upon which the Brooks Range formed. The seismic data suggest that the master detachment is connected to the faults in the EMA by several ramps. In the highly metamorphosed terranes south of the Doonerak window, the CMP section shows numerous south-dipping events which we interpret as a crustal scale duplex involving the Doonerak window rocks. The basal detachment reflections can be traced approximately 100 km, and dip southward from about 10-12 km near the range front, to 14-18 km beneath the Doonerak window, to 26-28 km beneath the metamorphic belts in the central Brooks Range. The section documents middle- and lower-crustal involvement in the formation of the Brooks Range. ?? 1994.

Early miocene bimodal volcanism, Northern Wilson Creek Range, Lincoln County, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Willis, J.B.; Willis, G.C.

1996-01-01

Early Miocene volcanism in the northern Wilson Creek Range, Lincoln County, Nevada, produced an interfingered sequence of high-silica rhyolite (greater than 74% SiO2) ash-flow tuffs, lava flows and dikes, and mafic lava flows. Three new potassium-argon ages range from 23.9 ?? 1.0 Ma to 22.6 ?? 1.2 Ma. The rocks are similar in composition, stratigraphic character, and age to the Blawn Formation, which is found in ranges to the east and southeast in Utah, and, therefore, are herein established as a western extension of the Blawn Formation. Miocene volcanism in the northern Wilson Creek Range began with the eruption of two geochemically similar, weakly evolved ash-flow tuff cooling units. The lower unit consists of crystal-poor, loosely welded, lapilli ash-flow tuffs, herein called the tuff member of Atlanta Summit. The upper unit consists of homogeneous, crystal-rich, moderately to densely welded ash-flow tuffs, herein called the tuff member of Rosencrans Peak. This unit is as much as 300 m thick and has a minimum eruptive volume of 6.5 km3, which is unusually voluminous for tuffs in the Blawn Formation. Thick, conspicuously flow-layered rhyolite lava flows were erupted penecontemporaneously with the tuffs. The rhyolite lava flows have a range of incompatible trace element concentrations, and some of them show an unusual mixing of aphyric and porphyritic magma. Small volumes of alkaline, vesicular, mafic flows containing 50 weight percent SiO2 and 2.3 weight percent K2O were extruded near the end of the rhyolite volcanic activity. The Blawn Formation records a shift in eruptive style and magmatic composition in the northern Wilson Creek Range. The Blawn was preceded by voluminous Oligocene eruptions of dominantly calc-alkaline orogenic magmas. The Blawn and younger volcanic rocks in the area are low-volume, bimodal suites of high-silica rhyolite tuffs and lava flows and mafic lava flows.

Unusually Low Snow Cover in the U.S.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

New maps of snow cover produced by NASA's Terra satellite show that this year's snow line stayed farther north than normal. When combined with land surface temperature measurements, the observations confirm earlier National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that the United States was unusually warm and dry this past winter. The above map shows snow cover over the continental United States from February 2002 and is based on data acquired by the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The amount of land covered by snow during this period was much lower than usual. With the exception of the western mountain ranges and the Great Lakes region, the country was mostly snow free. The solid red line marks the average location of the monthly snow extent; white areas are snow-covered ground. Snow was mapped at approximately 5 kilometer pixel resolution on a daily basis and then combined, or composited, every eight days. If a pixel was at least 50 percent snow covered during all of the eight-day periods that month, it was mapped as snow covered for the whole month. For more information, images, and animations, read: Terra Satellite Data Confirm Unusually Warm, Dry U.S. Winter Image by Robert Simmon, based on data from the MODIS Snow/Ice Global Mapping Project

Collective Traffic-like Movement of Ants on a Trail: Dynamical Phases and Phase Transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kunwar, Ambarish; John, Alexander; Nishinari, Katsuhiro; Schadschneider, Andreas; Chowdhury, Debashish

2004-11-01

The traffic-like collective movement of ants on a trail can be described by a stochastic cellular automaton model. We have earlier investigated its unusual flow-density relation by using various mean field approximations and computer simulations. In this paper, we study the model following an alternative approach based on the analogy with the zero range process, which is one of the few known exactly solvable stochastic dynamical models. We show that our theory can quantitatively account for the unusual non-monotonic dependence of the average speed of the ants on their density for finite lattices with periodic boundary conditions. Moreover, we argue that the model exhibits a continuous phase transition at the critial density only in a limiting case. Furthermore, we investigate the phase diagram of the model by replacing the periodic boundary conditions by open boundary conditions.

The Sentinel-4 detectors: architecture and performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skegg, Michael P.; Hermsen, Markus; Hohn, Rüdiger; Williges, Christian; Woffinden, Charles; Levillain, Yves; Reulke, Ralf

2017-09-01

The Sentinel-4 instrument is an imaging spectrometer, developed by Airbus under ESA contract in the frame of the joint European Union (EU)/ESA COPERNICUS program. SENTINEL-4 will provide accurate measurements of trace gases from geostationary orbit, including key atmospheric constituents such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, as well as aerosol and cloud properties. Key to achieving these atmospheric measurements are the two CCD detectors, covering the wavelengths in the ranges 305 nm to 500 nm (UVVIS) and 750 to 775 nm (NIR) respectively. The paper describes the architecture, and operation of these two CCD detectors, which have an unusually high full-well capacity and a very specific architecture and read-out sequence to match the requirements of the Sentinel- 4 instrument. The key performance aspects and their verification through measurement are presented, with a focus on an unusual, bi-modal dark signal generation rate observed during test.

Prolonged intensive dominance behavior between gray wolves, Canis lupus

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mech, L. David; Cluff, H. Dean

2010-01-01

Dominance is one of the most pervasive and important behaviors among wolves in a pack, yet its significance in free-ranging packs has been little studied. Insights into a behavior can often be gained by examining unusual examples of it. In the High Arctic near Eureka, Nunavut, Canada, we videotaped and described an unusually prolonged and intensive behavioral bout between an adult male Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) and a male member of his pack, thought to be a maturing son. With tail raised, the adult approached a male pack mate about 50 m from us and pinned and straddled this packmate repeatedly over 6.5 minutes, longer than we had ever seen in over 50 years of studying wolves. We interpreted this behavior as an extreme example of an adult wolf harassing a maturing offspring, perhaps in prelude to the offspring?s dispersal.

Outlier Detection for Patient Monitoring and Alerting

PubMed Central

Hauskrecht, Milos; Batal, Iyad; Valko, Michal; Visweswaran, Shyam; Cooper, Gregory F.; Clermont, Gilles

2012-01-01

We develop and evaluate a data-driven approach for detecting unusual (anomalous) patient-management decisions using past patient cases stored in electronic health records (EHRs). Our hypothesis is that a patient-management decision that is unusual with respect to past patient care may be due to an error and that it is worthwhile to generate an alert if such a decision is encountered. We evaluate this hypothesis using data obtained from EHRs of 4,486 post-cardiac surgical patients and a subset of 222 alerts generated from the data. We base the evaluation on the opinions of a panel of experts. The results of the study support our hypothesis that the outlier-based alerting can lead to promising true alert rates. We observed true alert rates that ranged from 25% to 66% for a variety of patient-management actions, with 66% corresponding to the strongest outliers. PMID:22944172

Fermi arc plasmons in Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Justin C. W.; Rudner, Mark S.

2017-11-01

In the recently discovered Weyl semimetals, the Fermi surface may feature disjoint, open segments—the so-called Fermi arcs—associated with topological states bound to exposed crystal surfaces. Here we show that the collective dynamics of electrons near such surfaces sharply departs from that of a conventional three-dimensional metal. In magnetic systems with broken time reversal symmetry, the resulting Fermi arc plasmons (FAPs) are chiral, with dispersion relations featuring open, hyperbolic constant frequency contours. As a result, a large range of surface plasmon wave vectors can be supported at a given frequency, with corresponding group velocity vectors directed along a few specific collimated directions. Fermi arc plasmons can be probed using near-field photonics techniques, which may be used to launch highly directional, focused surface plasmon beams. The unusual characteristics of FAPs arise from the interplay of bulk and surface Fermi arc carrier dynamics and give a window into the unusual fermiology of Weyl semimetals.

Paraganglioma of the vagina: a case report and review of the literature

PubMed Central

Cai, Tao; Li, Yucong; Jiang, Qingming; Wang, Dong; Huang, Yu

2014-01-01

Vaginal paraganglioma is a rare and unusual tumor occurring in the vaginal wall. It is a solitary primary paraganglioma, especially in atypical sites. Herein, we report an unusual case of a 17-year-old woman who had not experienced vomiting, or hypertension. She was found to have an immobile solid mass in the right side of her vaginal wall. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans revealed a well-defined solid ovoid mass adjacent to the bladder and pelvic floor. Tumor markers were within the normal range. A transient blood pressure increase occurred during the biopsy. After oral administration of antihypertensive drugs, surgery was performed to completely remove the mass. Histopathological examination indicated that it was a paraganglioma of the vagina. Repeat computed tomography examination did not reveal any local recurrence or distant metastasis during the 12-month follow-up period. PMID:24959083

On the occurrence and origin of anthropogenic radionuclides found in a fragment of the Chelyabinsk (LL5) meteorite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Querfeld, Rebecca; Tanha, Mohammad R.; Heyer, Lars; Renz, Franz; Guggenberger, Georg; Brandstätter, Franz; Ferrière, Ludovic; Koeberl, Christian; Steinhauser, Georg

2017-06-01

A piece of the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteorite was investigated for its content of anthropogenic radionuclides. In addition to traces of cesium-137 that had been previously reported for this particular fragment, we found an unusually high amount of strontium-90, which indicates that the source of this contamination was the Kyshtym accident (1957). A high Sr-90/Cs-137 activity ratio is characteristic for Kyshtym-derived contaminations. Based on the cesium-137 content in the soil from the finding site, it is estimated that the fragment was contaminated with soil particles in the milligram range upon impact. Investigation of the soil revealed very unusual ferromagnetic characteristics and an iron-rich chemical composition. Mössbauer spectroscopy indicated the presence of steel components in this soil, suggesting that the investigated meteorite fragment was found in an industrial dumping site rather than natural soil.

Entrance, exit, and reentrance of one shot with a shotgun.

PubMed

Gulmann, C; Hougen, H P

1999-03-01

The case being reported is one of a homicidal shotgun fatality with an unusual wound pattern. A 34-year-old man was shot at close range with a 12-gauge shotgun armed with No. 5 birdshot ammunition. The shot entered the left axillary region, exited through the left infraclavicular region, and thereafter penetrated the left side of the neck, causing tearing of the left common carotid artery and the right internal carotid artery. The entrance wound in the axilla was larger than the other wounds, and before autopsy it was believed that the shotgun had been fired twice, causing one wound in the neck and one wound perforating the infraclavicular region and exiting through the left axillary region. Thus, this case shows that unusual wound patterns in shotgun fatalities can easily lead to incorrect assumptions with regard to number and direction of shots fired unless thorough investigation is carried out postmortem.

Case Report: An Unusual Case of Post-Stroke Psychosis in a 71-Year-Old Lady with a Learning Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leeds, Lesley; Srinivasan, Janaki

2011-01-01

People with a learning disability are just as likely as people in the general population to be at risk of cerebrovascular disease, due to the presence of undetected/undertreated vascular risk factors. When people with a learning disability are presenting with additional cognitive impairment, it is important to consider a range of conditions that…

Brief Report: An Unusual Manifestation of Diagnostic Overshadowing of Pervasive Developmental Disorder--Not Otherwise Specified--A Five Year Longitudinal Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meera, S. S.; Kaipa, Ramesh; Thomas, Jaslin; Shivashankar, N.

2013-01-01

Children with communication disorders present with a range of comorbid conditions. Occasionally one of the comorbid conditions manifests so strongly that the primary condition goes unnoticed by the clinician. This tendency to overlook comorbid health problems in the presence of a disability is referred to as diagnostic overshadowing. This is a…

Generalized atrophic dells in a newborn.

PubMed

Buka, Robert L; Roberts, Brandie J; Resh, Brooke; Newbury, Robert; Cunningham, Bari B

2006-07-01

Infantile myofibromatosis (IM) is a nonmetastasizing locally invasive neoplasm. The behavior of the tumor is more hamartomatous than tumoral, and it is unclear whether the cell of origin is a fibroblast or a smooth muscle myocyte. Lesions typically present during infancy and range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters. We present an unusual case of a patient with an atrophic variant of IM.

Oviposition Preference and Larval Performance of Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Four Eastern North American Hardwood Tree Species

Treesearch

W. D. Morewood; P. R. Neiner; J. R. McNeil; J. C. Sellmer; K. Hoover

2003-01-01

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky ) is an invasive wood-boring cerambycid beetle that kills hardwood trees. The host range of this species is unusually broad but is not well defined in the available literature and may include tree species that have not been reported as hosts because they have not previously been exposed to the beetle. We...

Myofibroblastoma Breast with Unusual Morphological Features. Cytohistopathogical Diagnostic Pitfalls and Role of Immunohistochemistry-Review of Literature

PubMed Central

Shivali, B.; S., Kataria; Chandramouleeswari, K.; Anita, S.

2013-01-01

Myofibroblastoma (MFB) is a rare mesenchymal tumour, derived from mammary stromal fibro-myofibroblasts, with diverse biological and morphological behaviour. Large and cellular myofibroblastomas, especially those with epitheliod like cells, can mimic various spindle cell lesions and metaplastic carcinomas, thus posing diagnostic challenge. A 50–year woman presented with slow growing, painless lump in the left breast. Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) smears showed predominant atypical spindle cell population, pleomorphic epithelial like cells and giant cells. Cytodiagnosis of atypical spindle cell lesion with the possibility of metaplastic carcinoma was suggested. Histopathological examination showed fascicles of spindle cell population admixed with epithelial like cells, atypical cells and tumour giant cells, thus raising differential diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma, low grade spindle cell sarcoma and myofibroblastic tumour. Lymph nodes were negative for metastatic deposits. Immunohistochemistry revealed variable coexpression of markers for vimentin, fibronectin, CD34, SMA (smooth muscle actin), but negative expression for , S-100, CD99, CK7 (cytokeratin 7), HMWK (high molecular weight keratin), ER (oestrogen receptor) and PR(progesterone receptors). Diagnosis of cellular myofibroblastoma with mixed unusual morphological features was defined, based on both histological and immunohistochemical features. MFB may cause a potential diagnostic pitfall while interpreting FNA and histopathological sections due to its wide differential diagnosis. The distinction of MFB from its cytohistological mimics of malignancy is crucial to avoid unnecessary extensive procedures. The case report emphasizes the role of immunohistochemistry as gold standard in diagnosis of MFB. The case is also being presented because of its large size and rare mixed unusual morphological features. PMID:24298520

Unusual seismogenic soft-sediment deformation structures in Cambrian epicratonic carbonate deposits, western Colorado, U.S.A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myrow, P.; Chen, J.

2013-12-01

A wide variety of unusual penecontemporaneous deformation structures exist in grainstone and flat-pebble conglomerate beds of the Upper Cambrian strata, western Colorado, including slide scarps, thrusted beds, irregular blocks and internally deformed beds. Slide scarps are characterized by concave-up, sharp surfaces that truncate one or more underlying beds. Thrusted beds record movement of a part of a bed onto itself along a moderate to steeply inclined (generally 25°-40°) ramp. The hanging wall lenses in cases show fault-bend geometries, with either intact or mildly deformed bedding. Irregular bedded to internally deformed blocks isolated on generally flat upper bedding surfaces are similar in composition to the underlying beds. These features represent parts of beds that were detached, moved up onto, and some distances across, the laterally adjacent undisturbed bed surfaces. The blocks moved either at the sediment-water interface or intrastratally at shallow depths within overlying muddy deposits. Finally, internally deformed beds have large blocks, fitted fabrics of highly irregular fragments, and contorted lamination, which represent heterogeneous deformation, such as brecciation and liquefaction. The various deformation structures were most probably triggered by earthquakes, considering the nature of deformation (regional distribution of liquefaction structures, and the brittle segmentation and subsequent transportation of semi-consolidated beds) and the reactivation of Mesoproterozoic, crustal-scale shear zones in the central Rockies during the Late Cambrian. Features produced by initial brittle deformation are unusual relative to most reported seismites, and may represent poorly recognized to unrecognized seismogenic structures in the rock record.

Diagnostic Utility of Wireless Video-Electroencephalography in Unsedated Dogs.

PubMed

James, F M K; Cortez, M A; Monteith, G; Jokinen, T S; Sanders, S; Wielaender, F; Fischer, A; Lohi, H

2017-09-01

Poor agreement between observers on whether an unusual event is a seizure drives the need for a specific diagnostic tool provided by video-electroencephalography (video-EEG) in human pediatric epileptology. That successful classification of events would be positively associated with increasing EEG recording length and higher event frequency reported before video-EEG evaluation; that a novel wireless video-EEG technique would clarify whether unusual behavioral events were seizures in unsedated dogs. Eighty-one client-owned dogs of various breeds undergoing investigation of unusual behavioral events at 4 institutions. Retrospective case series: evaluation of wireless video-EEG recordings in unsedated dogs performed at 4 institutions. Electroencephalography achieved/excluded diagnosis of epilepsy in 58 dogs (72%); 25 dogs confirmed with epileptic seizures based on ictal/interictal epileptiform discharges, and 33 dogs with no EEG abnormalities associated with their target events. As reported frequency of the target events decreased (annually, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, minutes, seconds), EEG was less likely to achieve diagnosis (P < 0.001). Every increase in event frequency increased the odds of achieving diagnosis by 2.315 (95% confidence interval: 1.36-4.34). EEG recording length (mean = 3.69 hours, range: 0.17-22.5) was not associated (P = 0.2) with the likelihood of achieving a diagnosis. Wireless video-EEG in unsedated dogs had a high success for diagnosis of unusual behavioral events. This technique offered a reliable clinical tool to investigate the epileptic origin of behavioral events in dogs. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Hydrographic and Ecological Effects of Enlargement of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Appendix IV. Benthos of Delaware Waters in and Near C and D Canal.

DTIC Science & Technology

1973-09-01

stations in the last three sampling periods of this project to supplement the regular I infaunal sampling schedule. Salinity , dissolved oxygen, water...summer. Salinity was quite variable but tended to be * highest in late summer (range 0.1 — 10 O/~~~~~~ )~~~ Dissolved oxygen, being an inverse...function of both salinity and temperature, dropped in summer. Concentrations in the 2—3 mg/l range were not unusual. The physical data collected in

Structure and dynamics of propylammonium nitrate-acetonitrile mixtures: An intricate multi-scale system probed with experimental and theoretical techniques.

PubMed

Campetella, Marco; Mariani, Alessandro; Sadun, Claudia; Wu, Boning; Castner, Edward W; Gontrani, Lorenzo

2018-04-07

In this article, we report the study of structural and dynamical properties for a series of acetonitrile/propylammonium nitrate mixtures as a function of their composition. These systems display an unusual increase in intensity in their X-ray diffraction patterns in the low-q regime, and their 1 H-NMR diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) spectra display unusual diffusivities. However, the magnitude of both phenomena for mixtures of propylammonium nitrate is smaller than those observed for ethylammonium nitrate mixtures with the same cosolvent, suggesting that the cation alkyl tail plays an important role in these observations. The experimental X-ray scattering data are compared with the results of molecular dynamics simulations, including both ab initio studies used to interpret short-range interactions and classical simulations to describe longer range interactions. The higher level calculations highlight the presence of a strong hydrogen bond network within the ionic liquid, only slightly perturbed even at high acetonitrile concentration. These strong interactions lead to the symmetry breaking of the NO 3 - vibrations, with a splitting of about 88 cm -1 in the ν 3 antisymmetric stretch. The classical force field simulations use a greater number of ion pairs, but are not capable of fully describing the longest range interactions, although they do successfully account for the observed concentration trend, and the analysis of the models confirms the nano-inhomogeneity of these kinds of samples.

Structure and dynamics of propylammonium nitrate-acetonitrile mixtures: An intricate multi-scale system probed with experimental and theoretical techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campetella, Marco; Mariani, Alessandro; Sadun, Claudia; Wu, Boning; Castner, Edward W.; Gontrani, Lorenzo

2018-04-01

In this article, we report the study of structural and dynamical properties for a series of acetonitrile/propylammonium nitrate mixtures as a function of their composition. These systems display an unusual increase in intensity in their X-ray diffraction patterns in the low-q regime, and their 1H-NMR diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) spectra display unusual diffusivities. However, the magnitude of both phenomena for mixtures of propylammonium nitrate is smaller than those observed for ethylammonium nitrate mixtures with the same cosolvent, suggesting that the cation alkyl tail plays an important role in these observations. The experimental X-ray scattering data are compared with the results of molecular dynamics simulations, including both ab initio studies used to interpret short-range interactions and classical simulations to describe longer range interactions. The higher level calculations highlight the presence of a strong hydrogen bond network within the ionic liquid, only slightly perturbed even at high acetonitrile concentration. These strong interactions lead to the symmetry breaking of the NO3 - vibrations, with a splitting of about 88 cm-1 in the ν3 antisymmetric stretch. The classical force field simulations use a greater number of ion pairs, but are not capable of fully describing the longest range interactions, although they do successfully account for the observed concentration trend, and the analysis of the models confirms the nano-inhomogeneity of these kinds of samples.

48 CFR 1332.114 - Unusual contract financing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Unusual contract financing... CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Non-Commercial Item Purchase Financing 1332.114 Unusual contract financing. The designee authorized to approve unusual contract financing arrangements is set forth in CAM...

48 CFR 32.114 - Unusual contract financing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Unusual contract financing... CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Non-Commercial Item Purchase Financing 32.114 Unusual contract financing. Any contract financing arrangement that deviates from this part is unusual contract financing...

48 CFR 432.114 - Unusual contract financing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Unusual contract financing... CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Non-Commercial Item Purchase Financing 432.114 Unusual contract financing. The HCA is authorized to approve unusual contract financing. The signed determination and finding...

Building an Unusual White-Dwarf Duo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohler, Susanna

2016-09-01

A new study has examined how the puzzling wide binary system HS 2220+2146 which consists of two white dwarfs orbiting each other might have formed. This system may be an example of a new evolutionary pathway for wide white-dwarf binaries.Evolution of a BinaryMore than 100 stellar systems have been discovered consisting of two white dwarfs in a wide orbit around each other. How do these binaries form? In the traditional picture, the system begins as a binary consisting of two main-sequence stars. Due to the large separation between the stars, the stars evolve independently, each passing through the main-sequence and giant branches and ending their lives as white dwarfs.An illustration of a hierarchical triple star system, in which two stars orbit each other, and a third star orbits the pair. [NASA/JPL-Caltech]Because more massive stars evolve more quickly, the most massive of the two stars in a binary pair should be the first to evolve into a white dwarf. Consequently, when we observe a double-white-dwarf binary, its usually a safe bet that the more massive of the two white dwarfs will also be the older and cooler of the pair, since it should have formed first.But in the case of the double-white-dwarf binary HS 2220+2146, the opposite is true: the more massive of the two white dwarfs appears to be the younger and hotter of the pair. If it wasnt created in the traditional way, then how did this system form?Two From Three?Led by Jeff Andrews (Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece and Columbia University), a team of scientists recently examined this system more carefully, analyzing its spectra to confirm our understanding of the white dwarfs temperatures and masses.Based on their observations, Andrews and collaborators determined that there are no hidden additional companions that could have caused the unusual evolution of this system. Instead, the team proposed that this unusual binary might be an example of an evolutionary channel that involves three stars.The authors proposed formation scenario for H220+2146. In this picture, the inner binary merges to form a blue straggler. This star and the remaining main-sequence star then evolve independently into white dwarfs, forming the system observed today. [Andrews et al. 2016]An Early MergerIn the model the authors propose for HS 2220+2146, the binary system began as a hierarchical triple system of main-sequence stars. The innermost binary then merged to form a large star known as a blue straggler a star that, due to the merger, will evolve more slowly than its larger mass implies it should.The blue straggler and the remaining main-sequence star, still in a wide orbit, then continued to evolve independently of each other. The smaller star ended its main-sequence lifetime and became a white dwarf first, followed by the more massive but slowly evolving blue straggler thus forming the system we observe today.If the authors model is correct, then HS 2220+2146 would be the first binary double white dwarf known to have formed through this channel. ESAs Gaia mission, currently underway, is expected to discover up to a million new white dwarfs, many of which will likely be in wide binary systems. Among these, we may well find many other systems like HS 2220+2146 that formed in the same way.CitationJeff J. Andrews et al 2016 ApJ 828 38. doi:10.3847/0004-637X/828/1/38

Two Species with an Unusual Combination of Traits Dominate Responses of British Grasshoppers and Crickets to Environmental Change.

PubMed

Beckmann, Björn C; Purse, Bethan V; Roy, David B; Roy, Helen E; Sutton, Peter G; Thomas, Chris D

2015-01-01

There are large variations in the responses of species to the environmental changes of recent decades, heightening interest in whether their traits may explain inter-specific differences in range expansions and contractions. Using a long-term distributional dataset, we calculated range changes of grasshoppers and crickets in Britain between the 1980s and the 2000s and assessed whether their traits (resource use, life history, dispersal ability, geographic location) explain relative performance of different species. Our analysis showed large changes in the distributions of some species, and we found a positive relationship between three traits and range change: ranges tended to increase for habitat generalists, species that oviposit in the vegetation above ground, and for those with a southerly distribution. These findings accord well with the nature of environmental changes over this period (climatic warming; reductions in the diversity and increases in the height of vegetation). However, the trait effects applied mainly to just two species, Conocephalus discolor and Metrioptera roeselii, which had shown the greatest range increases. Once they were omitted from the analysis, trait effects were no longer statistically significant. Previous studies on these two species emphasised wing-length dimorphism as the key to their success, resulting in a high phenotypic plasticity of dispersal and evolutionary-ecological feedback at their expanding range margins. This, combined with our results, suggests that an unusual combination of traits have enabled these two species to undertake extremely rapid responses to recent environmental changes. The fact that our results are dominated by two species only became apparent through cautious testing of the results' robustness, not through standard statistical checks. We conclude that trait-based analyses may contribute to the assessment of species responses to environmental change and provide insights into underlying mechanisms, but results need to be interpreted with caution and may have limited predictive power.

Hepato-porto-biliary changes following a high energy electrical shock

PubMed Central

Alnuaimi, Osama; Lazăr, Mihai; Apostolescu, Cătălin; Scheau, Cristian; Adriana Ion, Daniela

2011-01-01

Present day increasing dependence on electricity, in both home and work environments, can lead, if the necessary precautions are not met, to a wide type of injuries, from cutaneous burns to important visceral lesions. We report the case of a 44 year-old male with cutaneous and severe visceral lesions, paresis and paresthesia of the right upper limb induced by a high energy electrical shock. No psychiatric manifestations were observed. This case followed an unusual course due to the particular evolution of the hepatic lesions, which included necrosis, abscesses, thrombosis and angiocholitis. PMID:24432255

Colitis cystica profunda of the rectum: An unexpected operative finding

PubMed Central

Ayantunde, Abraham A; Strauss, Claire; Sivakkolunthu, Malathi; Malhotra, Anu

2016-01-01

Colitis cystic profunda is a rare entity benign condition of the colon and rectum that can mimic suspicious polyps or malignancy. The commonest sites of affectation are the rectum and the sigmoid colon but it can be unusually widely distributed in the colon. The aetiology of this condition is not fully elucidated and confident diagnosis can only be made on histological features. We hereby describe a patient who presented with significant rectal symptoms and an unexpected finding of a submucosal mucous cyst mimicking a suspicious rectal polyp and highlighted its significance and the review of the literature. PMID:27458593

Colitis cystica profunda of the rectum: An unexpected operative finding.

PubMed

Ayantunde, Abraham A; Strauss, Claire; Sivakkolunthu, Malathi; Malhotra, Anu

2016-07-16

Colitis cystic profunda is a rare entity benign condition of the colon and rectum that can mimic suspicious polyps or malignancy. The commonest sites of affectation are the rectum and the sigmoid colon but it can be unusually widely distributed in the colon. The aetiology of this condition is not fully elucidated and confident diagnosis can only be made on histological features. We hereby describe a patient who presented with significant rectal symptoms and an unexpected finding of a submucosal mucous cyst mimicking a suspicious rectal polyp and highlighted its significance and the review of the literature.

Ice Volcanoes on Pluto?

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-11-10

NASA New Horizons scientists believe that the informally named feature Wright Mons, located south of Sputnik Planum on Pluto, and another, Piccard Mons, could have been formed by the cryovolcanic eruption of ices from beneath Pluto surface. Sputnik Planum on Pluto, is an unusual feature that's about 100 miles (160 kilometers) wide and 13,000 feet (4 kilometers) high. It displays a summit depression (visible in the center of the image) that's approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers) across, with a distinctive hummocky texture on its sides. The rim of the summit depression also shows concentric fracturing. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20155

Familial pseudoxanthoma elasticum associated with multiple comedones.

PubMed

Maarouf, Melody; Sharon, Victoria R; Sivamani, Raja K; Prakash, Neha; Bipin, T H; Davis, Tracy; Shi, Vivian Y

2017-09-15

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by atypical elastic fibers that causes connective tissue abnormalities of the skin, eyes, and heart, among other organs. The disorder is rare, with a classic presentation of yellow-orange cobblestone-like papules on flexural areas, lax skin, ocular degeneration, and moribund vasculature in multiple organs. There is wide variability in the presentation of the affected organs [1]. We present two sisters with classic cutaneous findings of PXE with the additional unusual findings of numerous open comedones on the neck. To our knowledge, this is the first report of numerous open comedones in familial PXE.

Tunneling STM/STS and break-junction spectroscopy of the layered nitro-chloride superconductors MNCl (M = Ti, Hf, Zr)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ekino, Toshikazu; Sugimoto, Akira; Gabovich, Alexander M.; Zheng, Zhanfeng; Zhang, Shuai; Yamanaka, Shoji

2014-05-01

The layered superconductors β-MNCl with the critical temperatures Tc = 14 K (M = Zr) - 25 K (M = Hf) were investigated by means of scanning-tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and break-junction tunneling spectroscopy. The STM/STS was used to investigate the surface electronic structures in nanometer length scale, while the BJTS was employed to precisely determine the gap characteristics. Both techniques consistently clarified the unusually large size of the superconducting gap. Wide gap distributions with large-scale maximum gap values were also revealed in α-KyTiNCl with a different crystal structure.

The white-margined penstemon (Penstemon albomarginatus Jones), a rare Mohave Desert species, and the Hualapai Mountains land exchange in Mohave County, Arizona

Treesearch

John L. Anderson

2001-01-01

The white-margined penstemon (Penstemon albomarginatus Jones) is a rare Mohave Desert species with an unusual tripartite distribution with disjunct localities in Arizona, California, and Nevada. The Arizona population is the largest single population occurring with a range of 15 miles by 5 miles in Dutch Flat near Yucca, Arizona in Mohave County. The land ownership...

Avioserpens in the Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis): A new Host and Geographic Record for a Dracunculoid Nematode and Implications of Migration and Climate Change.

PubMed

Latas, Patricia J; Stockdale Walden, Heather D; Bates, Lisa; Marshall, Summer; Rohr, Tammy; Whitehead, Lou Rae

2016-01-01

We report a new host and geographic range for the dracunculoid nematode (Avioserpens sp.) in a Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) from southern Arizona, US. This discovery underscores the importance of parasite discovery and identification in the wildlife rehabilitation setting. Climate change and weather events affect the migratory spread of unusual parasites.

The Role of Technical Vocational Education and Training in Transition Countries. The Case of Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States. Working Document.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

European Training Foundation, Turin (Italy).

In comparison with the context in which reforms usually occur, the current vocational education and training (VET) reforms in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and New Independent States (NIS) have these two unusual aspects: breadth, range, and depth of VET reforms are extremely large; and the reform process is exceptionally rapid. The European…

Massive osteolysis of the right clavicle developing after radiation therapy

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

Skinner, W.L.; Buzdar, A.U.; Libshitz, H.I.

1988-07-15

This report describes an unusual case of clavicular osteolysis, a late complication of radiation therapy for breast cancer, and demonstrates the diagnostic implications that radiotherapy changes can pose. Radiotherapy to the chest wall produces a spectrum of alterations in bone over time, ranging from early roentgenographic findings of osteoporosis and trabecular thickening to spontaneous fractures and changes that may be confused with metastatic disease or postirradiation sarcoma.

Brushing up on the history of intermetallics in dentistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waterstrat, Richard M.

1990-03-01

Employing a silver-tin-mercury intermetallic to repair cavities may seem a little unusual, but intermetallics are quite common in dentistry, ranging from gold crowns to braces. Although the human mouth can be unfriendly territory for a brittle intermetallic alloy, dental amalgam has been around since 659 A.D., and its technology has been developed to the point where a filling can be expected to last 30 years or more.

Hackers ring up big phone bills for hospitals.

PubMed

Gardner, E

1992-11-02

A big telephone bill--possibly in six figures--can be a painful way for a hospital to find out its phone system isn't secure. When unusually large long-distance bills start to show up, chances are a professional telephone hacker has broken in. According to experts, one in 15 businesses has been victimized by long-distance toll fraud, and loss estimates range from $900 million to $4 billion a year.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of postirradiation sarcomas, including angiosarcoma, with immunocytochemical confirmation

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

Silverman, J.F.; Lannin, D.L.; Larkin, E.W.

1989-01-01

Postirradiation sarcomas are an unusual but well-recognized late effect of cancer therapy. In this article, a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) series of four cases is presented. There were three female patients and one male patient, with an age range of 28-55 yr (mean, 41). Two of the patients were irradiated for uterine cervical carcinoma while the other two received irradiation for malignant lymphoma. The time interval to the development of the postirradiation sarcoma ranged from 10 to greater than 20 yr. There were a postirradiation synovial sarcoma of the buttock region, malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the bone (femur), and rhabdomyosarcoma andmore » angiosarcoma of the retroperitoneum. A spectrum of cytologic findings was encountered, reflecting the specific types of sarcomas. Immunocytochemical studies performed on the aspirated material from the angiosarcoma demonstrated the utility of immunoperoxidase stains for ULEX europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1) and, to a lesser degree, factor VIII-related antigen antibody, confirming the vascular nature of this malignancy. The FNA findings from all four cases demonstrated cytologic features that allowed recognition of this unusual complication of irradiation treatment. This article confirms the utility of FNA cytology in following patients with previous malignancies and differentiating a postirradiation sarcoma from recurrent carcinoma.« less

Unusual Observations during the December 2006 Solar Energetic Particle Events within an Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejection at 1 AU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulligan, T.; Blake, J. B.; Mewaldt, R. A.; Leske, R. A.

2008-08-01

In mid December 2006 several flares on the Sun occurred in rapid succession, spawning several CMEs and bathing the Earth in multiple solar energetic particle (SEP) events. One such SEP event occurring on December 14 was observed at the Earth just as an interplanetary CME (ICME) from a previous flare on December 13 was transiting the Earth. Although solar wind observations during this time show typical energetic proton fluxes from the prior SEP event and IP shock driven ahead of the ICME, as the ICME passes the Earth unusual energetic particle signatures are observed. Measurements from ACE, Wind, and STEREO show proton flux variations at energies ranging from ~3 MeV up to greater than 70 MeV. Energetic electron signatures from ACE show similar variations. Within the Earth's magnetosphere Polar HIST also sees these proton flux variations at energies greater than 10 MeV while crossing open field lines in the southern polar cap. Although no such variation in the energetic proton flux is observed at the GOES 11 spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit near the subsolar region, differential fluxes observed at GOES 11 and GOES 12 in the 15-40 MeV energy range do show some variability, indicating the signature is observable near dawn and dusk.

The second Sandia Fracture Challenge. Predictions of ductile failure under quasi-static and moderate-rate dynamic loading

DOE PAGES

Boyce, B. L.; Kramer, S. L. B.; Bosiljevac, T. R.; ...

2016-03-14

Ductile failure of structural metals is relevant to a wide range of engineering scenarios. Computational methods are employed to anticipate the critical conditions of failure, yet they sometimes provide inaccurate and misleading predictions. Challenge scenarios, such as the one presented in the current work, provide an opportunity to assess the blind, quantitative predictive ability of simulation methods against a previously unseen failure problem. Instead of evaluating the predictions of a single simulation approach, the Sandia Fracture Challenge relied on numerous volunteer teams with expertise in computational mechanics to apply a broad range of computational methods, numerical algorithms, and constitutive modelsmore » to the challenge. This exercise is intended to evaluate the state of health of technologies available for failure prediction. In the first Sandia Fracture Challenge, a wide range of issues were raised in ductile failure modeling, including a lack of consistency in failure models, the importance of shear calibration data, and difficulties in quantifying the uncertainty of prediction [see Boyce et al. (Int J Fract 186:5–68, 2014) for details of these observations]. This second Sandia Fracture Challenge investigated the ductile rupture of a Ti–6Al–4V sheet under both quasi-static and modest-rate dynamic loading (failure in ~ 0.1 s). Like the previous challenge, the sheet had an unusual arrangement of notches and holes that added geometric complexity and fostered a competition between tensile- and shear-dominated failure modes. The teams were asked to predict the fracture path and quantitative far-field failure metrics such as the peak force and displacement to cause crack initiation. Fourteen teams contributed blind predictions, and the experimental outcomes were quantified in three independent test labs. In addition, shortcomings were revealed in this second challenge such as inconsistency in the application of appropriate boundary conditions, need for a thermomechanical treatment of the heat generation in the dynamic loading condition, and further difficulties in model calibration based on limited real-world engineering data. As with the prior challenge, this work not only documents the ‘state-of-the-art’ in computational failure prediction of ductile tearing scenarios, but also provides a detailed dataset for non-blind assessment of alternative methods.« less

The second Sandia Fracture Challenge. Predictions of ductile failure under quasi-static and moderate-rate dynamic loading

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

Boyce, B. L.; Kramer, S. L. B.; Bosiljevac, T. R.

Ductile failure of structural metals is relevant to a wide range of engineering scenarios. Computational methods are employed to anticipate the critical conditions of failure, yet they sometimes provide inaccurate and misleading predictions. Challenge scenarios, such as the one presented in the current work, provide an opportunity to assess the blind, quantitative predictive ability of simulation methods against a previously unseen failure problem. Instead of evaluating the predictions of a single simulation approach, the Sandia Fracture Challenge relied on numerous volunteer teams with expertise in computational mechanics to apply a broad range of computational methods, numerical algorithms, and constitutive modelsmore » to the challenge. This exercise is intended to evaluate the state of health of technologies available for failure prediction. In the first Sandia Fracture Challenge, a wide range of issues were raised in ductile failure modeling, including a lack of consistency in failure models, the importance of shear calibration data, and difficulties in quantifying the uncertainty of prediction [see Boyce et al. (Int J Fract 186:5–68, 2014) for details of these observations]. This second Sandia Fracture Challenge investigated the ductile rupture of a Ti–6Al–4V sheet under both quasi-static and modest-rate dynamic loading (failure in ~ 0.1 s). Like the previous challenge, the sheet had an unusual arrangement of notches and holes that added geometric complexity and fostered a competition between tensile- and shear-dominated failure modes. The teams were asked to predict the fracture path and quantitative far-field failure metrics such as the peak force and displacement to cause crack initiation. Fourteen teams contributed blind predictions, and the experimental outcomes were quantified in three independent test labs. In addition, shortcomings were revealed in this second challenge such as inconsistency in the application of appropriate boundary conditions, need for a thermomechanical treatment of the heat generation in the dynamic loading condition, and further difficulties in model calibration based on limited real-world engineering data. As with the prior challenge, this work not only documents the ‘state-of-the-art’ in computational failure prediction of ductile tearing scenarios, but also provides a detailed dataset for non-blind assessment of alternative methods.« less

Paths to destruction: the lives and crimes of two serial killers.

PubMed

Wolf, Barbara C; Lavezzi, Wendy A

2007-01-01

Although research into the phenomenon of serial murder has revealed that serial killers frequently do not fit the initially described paradigm in terms of their physical and psychological profiles, backgrounds, and motives to kill, the media continues to sensationalize the figures of such killers and the investigators who attempt to analyze them on the basis of aspects of their crimes. Although the so-called "typical" profile of the serial murderer has proven accurate in some instances, in many other cases the demographics and behaviors of these killers have deviated widely from the generalized assumptions. This report details two unusual cases in which five and eight murders were committed in upstate New York. The lives and crimes of these offenders illustrate the wide spectrum of variations in the backgrounds, demographics, motivations, and actions witnessed among serial murderers, and highlight the limitations and dangers of profiling based on generalities.

The MPS1 family of protein kinases.

PubMed

Liu, Xuedong; Winey, Mark

2012-01-01

MPS1 protein kinases are found widely, but not ubiquitously, in eukaryotes. This family of potentially dual-specific protein kinases is among several that regulate a number of steps of mitosis. The most widely conserved MPS1 kinase functions involve activities at the kinetochore in both the chromosome attachment and the spindle checkpoint. MPS1 kinases also function at centrosomes. Beyond mitosis, MPS1 kinases have been implicated in development, cytokinesis, and several different signaling pathways. Family members are identified by virtue of a conserved C-terminal kinase domain, though the N-terminal domain is quite divergent. The kinase domain of the human enzyme has been crystallized, revealing an unusual ATP-binding pocket. The activity, level, and subcellular localization of Mps1 family members are tightly regulated during cell-cycle progression. The mitotic functions of Mps1 kinases and their overexpression in some tumors have prompted the identification of Mps1 inhibitors and their active development as anticancer drugs.

Baseline design and requirements for the LSST rotating enclosure (dome)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neill, D. R.; DeVries, J.; Hileman, E.; Sebag, J.; Gressler, W.; Wiecha, O.; Andrew, J.; Schoening, W.

2014-07-01

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) is a large (8.4 meter) wide-field (3.5 degree) survey telescope, which will be located on the Cerro Pachón summit in Chile. As a result of the wide field of view, its optical system is unusually susceptible to stray light; consequently besides protecting the telescope from the environment the rotating enclosure (Dome) also provides indispensible light baffling. All dome vents are covered with light baffles which simultaneously provide both essential dome flushing and stray light attenuation. The wind screen also (and primarily) functions as a light screen providing only a minimum clear aperture. Since the dome must operate continuously, and the drives produce significant heat, they are located on the fixed lower enclosure to facilitate glycol water cooling. To accommodate day time thermal control, a duct system channels cooling air provided by the facility when the dome is in its parked position.

Natural glide slab avalanches, Glacier National Park, USA: A unique hazard and forecasting challenge

USGS Publications Warehouse

Reardon, Blase; Fagre, Daniel B.; Dundas, Mark; Lundy, Chris

2006-01-01

In a museum of avalanche phenomena, glide cracks and glide avalanches might be housed in the “strange but true” section. These oddities are uncommon in most snow climates and tend to be isolated to specific terrain features such as bedrock slabs. Many glide cracks never result in avalanches, and when they do, the wide range of time between crack formation and slab failure makes them highly unpredictable. Despite their relative rarity, glide cracks and glide avalanches pose a regular threat and complex forecasting challenge during the annual spring opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, U.S.A. During the 2006 season, a series of unusual glide cracks delayed snow removal operations by over a week and provided a unique opportunity to record detailed observations of glide avalanches and characterize their occurrence and associated weather conditions. Field observations were from snowpits, crown profiles and where possible, measurements of slab thickness, bed surface slope angle, substrate and other physical characteristics. Weather data were recorded at one SNOTEL site and two automated stations located from 0.6-10 km of observed glide slab avalanches. Nearly half (43%) of the 35 glide slab avalanches recorded were Class D2-2.5, with 15% Class D3-D3.5. The time between glide crack opening and failure ranged from 2 days to over six weeks, and the avalanches occurred in cycles associated with loss of snow water equivalent and spikes in temperature and radiation. We conclude with suggest ions for further study.

HESS J1427−608: AN UNUSUAL HARD, UNBROKEN γ -RAY SPECTRUM IN A VERY WIDE ENERGY RANGE

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

Guo, Xiao-Lei; Gao, Wei-Hong; Xin, Yu-Liang

2017-01-20

We report the detection of a GeV γ -ray source that spatially overlaps and is thus very likely associated with the unidentified very high energy (VHE) γ -ray source HESS J1427−608 with the Pass 8 data recorded by the Fermi Large Area Telescope . The photon spectrum of this source is best described by a power law with an index of 1.85 ± 0.17 in the energy range of 3–500 GeV, and the measured flux connects smoothly with that of HESS J1427−608 at a few hundred gigaelectronvolts. This source shows no significant extension and time variation. The broadband GeV tomore » TeV emission over four decades of energies can be well fitted by a single power-law function with an index of 2.0, without obvious indication of spectral cutoff toward high energies. Such a result implies that HESS J1427−608 may be a PeV particle accelerator. We discuss the possible nature of HESS J1427−608 according to the multiwavelength spectral fittings. Given the relatively large errors, either a leptonic or a hadronic model can explain the multiwavelength data from radio to VHE γ -rays. The inferred magnetic field strength is a few micro-Gauss, which is smaller than the typical values of supernova remnants (SNRs) and is consistent with some pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe). On the other hand, the flat γ -ray spectrum is slightly different from typical PWNe but is similar to that of some known SNRs.« less

HESS J1427-608: An Unusual Hard, Unbroken Gamma-Ray Spectrum in a Very Wide Energy Range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Xiao-Lei; Xin, Yu-Liang; Liao, Neng-Hui; Yuan, Qiang; Gao, Wei-Hong; He, Hao-Ning; Fan, Yi-Zhong; Liu, Si-Ming

2017-01-01

We report the detection of a GeV γ-ray source that spatially overlaps and is thus very likely associated with the unidentified very high energy (VHE) γ-ray source HESS J1427-608 with the Pass 8 data recorded by the Fermi Large Area Telescope. The photon spectrum of this source is best described by a power law with an index of 1.85 ± 0.17 in the energy range of 3-500 GeV, and the measured flux connects smoothly with that of HESS J1427-608 at a few hundred gigaelectronvolts. This source shows no significant extension and time variation. The broadband GeV to TeV emission over four decades of energies can be well fitted by a single power-law function with an index of 2.0, without obvious indication of spectral cutoff toward high energies. Such a result implies that HESS J1427-608 may be a PeV particle accelerator. We discuss the possible nature of HESS J1427-608 according to the multiwavelength spectral fittings. Given the relatively large errors, either a leptonic or a hadronic model can explain the multiwavelength data from radio to VHE γ-rays. The inferred magnetic field strength is a few micro-Gauss, which is smaller than the typical values of supernova remnants (SNRs) and is consistent with some pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe). On the other hand, the flat γ-ray spectrum is slightly different from typical PWNe but is similar to that of some known SNRs.

Genome-wide analysis of cold adaptation in indigenous Siberian populations.

PubMed

Cardona, Alexia; Pagani, Luca; Antao, Tiago; Lawson, Daniel J; Eichstaedt, Christina A; Yngvadottir, Bryndis; Shwe, Ma Than Than; Wee, Joseph; Romero, Irene Gallego; Raj, Srilakshmi; Metspalu, Mait; Villems, Richard; Willerslev, Eske; Tyler-Smith, Chris; Malyarchuk, Boris A; Derenko, Miroslava V; Kivisild, Toomas

2014-01-01

Following the dispersal out of Africa, where hominins evolved in warm environments for millions of years, our species has colonised different climate zones of the world, including high latitudes and cold environments. The extent to which human habitation in (sub-)Arctic regions has been enabled by cultural buffering, short-term acclimatization and genetic adaptations is not clearly understood. Present day indigenous populations of Siberia show a number of phenotypic features, such as increased basal metabolic rate, low serum lipid levels and increased blood pressure that have been attributed to adaptation to the extreme cold climate. In this study we introduce a dataset of 200 individuals from ten indigenous Siberian populations that were genotyped for 730,525 SNPs across the genome to identify genes and non-coding regions that have undergone unusually rapid allele frequency and long-range haplotype homozygosity change in the recent past. At least three distinct population clusters could be identified among the Siberians, each of which showed a number of unique signals of selection. A region on chromosome 11 (chr11:66-69 Mb) contained the largest amount of clustering of significant signals and also the strongest signals in all the different selection tests performed. We present a list of candidate cold adaption genes that showed significant signals of positive selection with our strongest signals associated with genes involved in energy regulation and metabolism (CPT1A, LRP5, THADA) and vascular smooth muscle contraction (PRKG1). By employing a new method that paints phased chromosome chunks by their ancestry we distinguish local Siberian-specific long-range haplotype signals from those introduced by admixture.

Congruent population structure inferred from dispersal behaviour and intensive genetic surveys of the threatened Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma cœrulescens)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Coulon, A.; Fitzpatrick, J.W.; Bowman, R.; Stith, B.M.; Makarewich, C.A.; Stenzler, L.M.; Lovette, I.J.

2008-01-01

The delimitation of populations, defined as groups of individuals linked by gene flow, is possible by the analysis of genetic markers and also by spatial models based on dispersal probabilities across a landscape. We combined these two complimentary methods to define the spatial pattern of genetic structure among remaining populations of the threatened Florida scrub-jay, a species for which dispersal ability is unusually well-characterized. The range-wide population was intensively censused in the 1990s, and a metapopulation model defined population boundaries based on predicted dispersal-mediated demographic connectivity. We subjected genotypes from more than 1000 individual jays screened at 20 microsatellite loci to two Bayesian clustering methods. We describe a consensus method for identifying common features across many replicated clustering runs. Ten genetically differentiated groups exist across the present-day range of the Florida scrub-jay. These groups are largely consistent with the dispersal-defined metapopulations, which assume very limited dispersal ability. Some genetic groups comprise more than one metapopulation, likely because these genetically similar metapopulations were sundered only recently by habitat alteration. The combined reconstructions of population structure based on genetics and dispersal-mediated demographic connectivity provide a robust depiction of the current genetic and demographic organization of this species, reflecting past and present levels of dispersal among occupied habitat patches. The differentiation of populations into 10 genetic groups adds urgency to management efforts aimed at preserving what remains of genetic variation in this dwindling species, by maintaining viable populations of all genetically differentiated and geographically isolated populations.

Biogeochemistry and nitrogen cycling in an Arctic, volcanic ecosystem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fogel, M. L.; Benning, L.; Conrad, P. G.; Eigenbrode, J.; Starke, V.

2007-12-01

As part of a study on Mars Analogue environments, the biogeochemistry of Sverrefjellet Volcano, Bocfjorden, Svalbard, was conducted and compared to surrounding glacial, thermal spring, and sedimentary environments. An understanding of how nitrogen might be distributed in a landscape that had extinct or very cold adapted, slow- growing extant organisms should be useful for detecting unknown life forms. From high elevations (900 m) to the base of the volcano (sea level), soil and rock ammonium concentrations were uniformly low, typically less than 1- 3 micrograms per gm of rock or soil. In weathered volcanic soils, reduced nitrogen concentrations were higher, and oxidized nitrogen concentrations lower. The opposite was found in a weathered Devonian sedimentary soil. Plants and lichens growing on volcanic soils have an unusually wide range in N isotopic compositions from -5 to +12‰, a range rarely measured in temperate ecosystems. Nitrogen contents and isotopic compositions of volcanic soils and rocks were strongly influenced by the presence or absence of terrestrial herbivores or marine avifauna with higher concentrations of N and elevated N isotopic compositions occurring as patches in areas immediately influenced by reindeer, Arctic fox ( Alopex lagopus), and marine birds. Because of the extreme conditions in this area, ephemeral deposition of herbivore feces results in a direct and immediate N pulses into the ecosystem. The lateral extent and distribution of marine- derived nitrogen was measured on a landscape scale surrounding an active fox den. Nitrogen was tracked from the bones of marine birds to soil to vegetation. Because of extreme cold, slow biological rates and nitrogen cycling, a mosaic of N patterns develops on the landscape scale.

Estimating the microbiological risks associated with inland flood events: Bridging theory and models of pathogen transport

PubMed Central

Collender, Philip A.; Cooke, Olivia C.; Bryant, Lee D.; Kjeldsen, Thomas R.; Remais, Justin V.

2017-01-01

Flooding is known to facilitate infectious disease transmission, yet quantitative research on microbiological risks associated with floods has been limited. Pathogen fate and transport models provide a framework to examine interactions between landscape characteristics, hydrology, and waterborne disease risks, but have not been widely developed for flood conditions. We critically examine capabilities of current hydrological models to represent unusual flow paths, non-uniform flow depths, and unsteady flow velocities that accompany flooding. We investigate the theoretical linkages between hydrodynamic processes and spatio-temporally variable suspension and deposition of pathogens from soils and sediments; pathogen dispersion in flow; and concentrations of constituents influencing pathogen transport and persistence. Identifying gaps in knowledge and modeling practice, we propose a research agenda to strengthen microbial fate and transport modeling applied to inland floods: 1) development of models incorporating pathogen discharges from flooded sources (e.g., latrines), effects of transported constituents on pathogen persistence, and supply-limited pathogen transport; 2) studies assessing parameter identifiability and comparing model performance under varying degrees of process representation, in a range of settings; 3) development of remotely sensed datasets to support modeling of vulnerable, data-poor regions; and 4) collaboration between modelers and field-based researchers to expand the collection of useful data in situ. PMID:28757789

Breaking Structural Energy Constraints: Hydrothermal Crystallization of High-Silica Germanosilicates via Building Units Self-Growing Approach.

PubMed

Peng, Mingming; Jiang, Jingang; Liu, Xue; Ma, Yue; Jiao, Meichen; Xu, Hao; Wu, Haihong; He, Mingyuan; Wu, Peng

2018-06-11

Zeolites, a class of crystalline microporous materials, have a wide range of practical applications, in particular serving as key catalysts in petrochemical and finechemical processes. Millions of zeolite topologies are theoretically possible. However, to date, only 235 frameworks with various tetrahedral element compositions have been discovered in nature or artificially synthesized, among which approximately 50 topologies are available in pure silica forms. Germanosilicates are becoming an important zeolite family, with a rapidly increasing number of topological structures with unusual double four-membered-ring (D4R) building units and large-pore or extra large-pore systems. The synthesis of their high-silica analogues with higher (hydro)thermal stability remains a great challenge because the formation of siliceous D4R units is kinetically and thermodynamically unfavorable in hydrothermal systems. Herein, we demonstrate that such D4R-containing high-silica zeolites with unexpected crystalline topologies (ECNU-24-RC and IM-20-RC) are readily constructed through a versatile route. This strategy provides new opportunities for the synthesis of high-silica zeolite catalysts that are hardly obtained by conventional hydrothermal synthesis and it would also facilitate a break-through in increasing the number and types of zeolite materials with practical applications. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Quantum and quasi-classical calculations for the S+ + H2(v, j) →SH+(v′, j′)+H reactive collisions

PubMed Central

Zanchet, Alexandre; Roncero, Octavio; Bulut, Niyazi

2016-01-01

State-to-state cross sections for the S+ + H2(v, j) → SH+ (v′, j′) + H endothermic reaction are obtained with quantum wave packet(WP) and quasi-classical (QCT) methods for different initial rovibrational H2(v, j) over a wide range of translation energies. Final state distribution as a function of the initial quantum number is obtained and discussed. Additionally, the effect of the internal excitation of H2 on the reactivity is carefully studied. It appears that energy transfer among modes is very inefficient, that vibrational energy is the most favorable for reaction and rotational excitation significantly enhance reactivity when vibrational energy is sufficient to reach the product. Special attention is also paid on an unusual discrepancy between classical and quantum dynamics for low rotational levels while agreement improves with rotational excitation of H2, An interesting resonant behaviour found in WP calculations is also discussed and is associated to the existence of roaming classical trajectories that enhance the reactivity of the title reaction. Finally, a comparison with the experimental results of Stowe et al.[1] for S+ + HD and S+ +D2 reactions, finding a reasonably good agreement with those results. PMID:27055725

Quantum and quasi-classical calculations for the S⁺ + H₂(v,j) → SH⁺(v',j') + H reactive collisions.

PubMed

Zanchet, Alexandre; Roncero, Octavio; Bulut, Niyazi

2016-04-28

State-to-state cross-sections for the S(+) + H2(v,j) → SH(+)(v',j') + H endothermic reaction are obtained using quantum wave packet (WP) and quasi-classical (QCT) methods for different initial ro-vibrational H2(v,j) over a wide range of translation energies. The final state distribution as a function of the initial quantum number is obtained and discussed. Additionally, the effect of the internal excitation of H2 on the reactivity is carefully studied. It appears that energy transfer among modes is very inefficient that vibrational energy is the most favorable for the reaction, and rotational excitation significantly enhances the reactivity when vibrational energy is sufficient to reach the product. Special attention is also paid to an unusual discrepancy between classical and quantum dynamics for low rotational levels while agreement improves with rotational excitation of H2. An interesting resonant behaviour found in WP calculations is also discussed and associated with the existence of roaming classical trajectories that enhance the reactivity of the title reaction. Finally, a comparison with the experimental results of Stowe et al. for S(+) + HD and S(+) + D2 reactions exhibits a reasonably good agreement with those results.