324,154 research outputs found
CONUS+ Experiment
No full textThe CONUS+ experiment aims to detect coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) of reactor antineutrinos on germanium nuclei in the fully coherent regime, continuing on this way the CONUS physics program started at the Brokdorf nuclear power plant, Germany. The CONUS+ setup is installed in the nuclear power plant in Leibstadt, Switzerland, at a distance of 20.7 m from the 3.6 GW thermal power reactor core. The CEνNS signature will be measured with the same four point-contact high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors produced for the former experiment, however refurbished and with optimized low energy thresholds of about 160 eVee. To suppress the background in the CONUS+ detectors, the passive and active layers of the original CONUS shield were modified such to fit better to the significantly changed background conditions at the new experimental location. New data acquisition and monitoring systems were developed. A direct network connection between the experiment and the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik (MPIK) makes it possible to control and monitor data acquisition in real time. The impact of all these modifications is discussed with particular emphasis on the resulting CEνNS signal prediction for the first data collection phase of CONUS+. Prospects of the planned upgrade in a second a e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] phase integrating new larger HPGe detectors are also discussed
The mitochondrial genome of the venomous cone snail conus consors
No full textCone snails are venomous predatory marine neogastropods that belong to the species-rich superfamily of the Conoidea. So far, the mitochondrial genomes of two cone snail species (Conus textile and Conus borgesi) have been described, and these feed on snails and worms, respectively. Here, we report the mitochondrial genome sequence of the fish-hunting cone snail Conus consors and describe a novel putative control region (CR) which seems to be absent in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of other cone snail species. This possible CR spans about 700 base pairs (bp) and is located between the genes encoding the transfer RNA for phenylalanine (tRNA-Phe, trnF) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (cox3). The novel putative CR contains several sequence motifs that suggest a role in mitochondrial replication and transcription
Final CONUS Results on Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering at the Brokdorf Reactor
No full textThe CONUS experiment studies coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering in four 1 kg germanium spectrometers. Low ionization energy thresholds of 210 eV were achieved. The detectors were operated inside an optimized shield at the Brokdorf nuclear power plant which provided a reactor antineutrino flux of up to 2.3×1013 cm−2 s−1. In the final phase of data collection at this site, the constraints on the neutrino interaction rate were improved by an order of magnitude as compared to the previous CONUS analysis. The new limit of less than 0.34 signal events kg−1 d−1 is within a factor 2 of the rate predicted by the standard model. This constraint is discussed in the context of conflicting measurements and results from another reactor neutrino experiment using similar technology
Venomous secretions from marine snails of the Terebridae family target acetylcholine receptors
No full textVenoms from cone snails (Conidae) have been extensively studied during the last decades, but those from other members of the suborder Toxoglossa, such as of Terebridae and Turridae superfamilies attracted less interest so far. Here, we report the effects of venom and gland extracts from three species of the superfamily Terebridae. By 2-electrode voltage-clamp technique the gland extracts were tested on Xenopus oocytes expressing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of rat neuronal (α3β2, α3β4, α4β2, α4β4, α7) and muscle subtypes (α1β1γδ), and expressing potassium (Kv1.2 and Kv1.3) and sodium channels (Nav1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6). The extracts were shown to exhibit remarkably high inhibitory activities on almost all nAChRs tested, in particular on the α7 subtype suggesting the presence of peptides of the A-superfamily from the venom of Conus species. In contrast, no effects on the potassium and sodium channels tested were observed. The venoms of terebrid snails may offer an additional source of novel biologically active peptides
Conus biliosus
No full text14. Conus biliosus [Röding, 1798] (Figure 15) Cucullus biliosus Röding, 1798: 39, no. 489 (representation of lectotype, Chemnitz 1788: pl. 139, fig. 1294 (42 x 25 mm); "Gulf of Mannar, between India and Ceylon "). Conus punctatus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792: 628, no. 23 (lectotype, MHNG (54 x 33 mm) (Walls 1979); "Océan Africain"). Conus parvulus Link, 1807: 106 (representation of lectotype, Martini 1773: pl. 63, fig. 707 (20 x 12 mm); locality unknown). Conus roseus Lamarck, 1810: 37, no. 32 (lectotype, same as that of C. biliosus; "Antilles"). Conus piperatus Dillwyn, 1817: 401, no. 86. Conus concinnus Sowerby II, 1866: 329, no. 438, pl. 28, fig. 646. Conus sapphirostoma Weinkauff, 1874: 268. Virroconus imperator Woolacott, 1956: 72, fig. 3 (holotype, AMS (42 x 23.5 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); "Trinity Bay, Queensland, Australia "). Conus biliosus meyeri Walls, 1979: 3 (holotype, DMNH (44 x 24.5 mm) (Walls 1979); " South Africa, Natal, Genezzano". Conus neoroseus da Motta, 1992: 29–30 ("Tabayas Bay, Luzon, Philippines "). Material examined: MBMCS 114, 28 specimens, SL 36–52 mm; SW 15–24 mm. Description. Shell moderately small to large, solid, with a low gloss or dull finish; outline conical, sides straight or inflated posteriorly. Body whorl usually elongate, covered with numerous low and undulating spiral ridges from base to shoulder, ridges weaker near mid-body, below shoulder and heaviest near base; numerous axial and spiral growth threads, lines, and flaws often present, sometimes smooth. Shoulder wide, roundly angled, weakly coronated or undulate, usually slightly concave above. Spire low, bluntly pointed, sides straight to slightly concave, spire whorls distinctly coronate. Aperture moderately wide, uniform; outer lip nearly straight, moderately thick and sharp. Distribution. Conus biliosus was reported to occur from Bombay (Subrahmanyam et al. 1952) to Okha in Gujarat (as ‘ C. punctatus Chemnitz’) on the west coast (Menon et al. 1961). In the east coast, it has been found as far north as Vizhagapattinam (Mitchell 1867) to Madras (Melvill & Standen 1898; Röckel et al. 1995), Rameswaram (as ‘ C. piperatus Dillwyn’) and Gulf of Mannar in the South (Thurston 1890, 1895; Satyamurti 1952; Röckel et al. 1995). The specimens described herein were collected from Keelakarai by diving in 15–20 m mainly on sand bottom and at Yerwadi by trawling in 10–35 m (Table 6). Remarks. The restricted distribution of C. biliosus only to two stations (S-18 & S-19) is yet to be studied.Published as part of Franklin, J. Benjamin, Subramanian, K. A., Fernando, S. Antony & Krishnan, K. S., 2009, 2250, pp. 1-63 in Zootaxa 2250 on pages 24-2
Conus imperialis Linnaeus 1758
No full text28. Conus imperialis Linnaeus, 1758 (Figure 29) Conus imperialis Linnaeus, 1758: 712, no. 251 (lectotype, LSL (65 x 37 mm) (Walls 1979); locality unknown). Conus fuscatus Born, 1778: 126–127, no. 1780 (lectotype, NMW (53 x 31 mm) (Kohn 1964; Walls 1979); " Mauritius "). Cucullus coronaducalis Röding, 1798: 38, no. 464 (representation of lectotype, Martini 1773: pl. 62, fig. 693 (41 x 26 mm); locality unknown). Cucullus regius Röding, 1798: 38, no. 465 (representation of lectotype, Chemnitz 1788: pl. 139, fig. 1289 (44 x 25 mm) (Kohn 1975); locality unknown). Conus viridulus Lamarck, 1810: 31, no. 9 (representation of type, Kiener 1845: pl. 7, fig. 1 (65 x 36 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); "Océan austral"). Conus queketti E.A. Smith, 1906: 22, pl. 7, fig. 1 (holotype, BMNH (27 x 14 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); "Isezela, Natal"). Conus dautzenbergi Fenaux, 1942: 2, fig. 2 (" Madagascar "). Conus douvillei Fenaux, 1942: 2–3, fig. 5 (" Madagascar "). Conus imperialis compactus Wils, 1970: 8, 12, pl. 2, fig. 7 (lectotype, ZMA (71 x 43 mm) (Coomans et al. 1985a); "Nosy Bé, Madagascar "). Conus imperialis nigrescens Barros e Cunha, 1933: 17, no. 9 (holotype, MZUC (66 x 39 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); locality unknown). Conus imperialis flavescens Barros e Cunha, 1933: 18, no. 10 (two syntypes, MZUC (42 x 25; 39 x 20.5 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); locality unknown). Material examined: MBMCS 128, 1 specimen, SL 48 mm; SW 24 mm. Description. Shell moderately large, solid and glossy. Body whorl conical; outline nearly straight and tapering to a narrow base. Body whorl with several low, widely spaced spiral ridges near basal third. Shoulder wide, angulate and strongly tuberculate. Spire very low; irregularly stepped, tip rounded, blunt; outline slightly concave. Post nuclear spire whorls distinctly tuberculate. Aperture narrow slightly wider anteriorly; outer lip sharp, thick. Ground colour white. Body whorl encircled with two brown bands variable in width, split into axial streaks and blotches. Spiral rows of alternating blackish-brown and white dashes extending from base to shoulder, rows closer near anterior. Base, siphonal fasciole and basal part of columella bluish grey suffused with brown. Spire dull white with small brownish blotches and streaks. Aperture white. Distribution. Conus imperialis has not been previously reported from India. The specimen described herein was collected from Tuticorin and Keelakarai (Table 6) by trawling in 40– 80 m and 20–50 m.Published as part of Franklin, J. Benjamin, Subramanian, K. A., Fernando, S. Antony & Krishnan, K. S., 2009, 2250, pp. 1-63 in Zootaxa 2250 on pages 32-3
Conus gubernator Hwass
No full text26. Conus gubernator Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 (Figure 27) Conus gubernator Hwass in Bruguière, 1792: 727–728, no. 121 (lectotype, MHNG (76 x 34 mm) (Kohn 1968); "Ocean asiatique"). Conus terminus Lamarck, 1810: 426, no. 141 (representation of holotype, Kiener 1845: pl. 48, fig. 1d (83 x 32 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); "Ocean asiatique"). Conus leehmani Röckel & da Motta, 1979: 17–18 (holotype, MHNG (65.5 x 34 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); " Maldive Is., Indian Ocean"). Conus veillardi da Motta, 1990: 44–46 (holotype, MHNG (52.5 x 25.5 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); "Glorieuses Islands, 11.30 S 47.20 E, western Indian Ocean"). Material examined: MBMCS 126, 1 specimen, SL 43 mm; SW 18 mm. Description. Shell moderately large, solid to moderately heavy, glossy. Body whorl ventricosely conical; outline slightly convex adapically, straight below. Shoulder angulate. Spire of moderate height, bluntly pointed; outline slightly convex. Body whorl with several shallow spiral grooves on basal fourth to third, rest of the whorl smooth. Aperture uniformly wide, outer lip thin, sharp, straight. Ground colour white suffused with light brown. Body whorl with separated blackish-brown axial markings; variable in shape and size, ranging from irregular flecks to large, zig-zag flames. Early spire whorls pinkish. Aperture white. Distribution. Melvill & Standen (1898) first reported C. gubernator from the Indian Coast. Satyamurti (1952) reported it from Pamban. Kohn (1978) reported specimens of C. gubernator deposited in BMNH and NMW. The specimen described herein was collected from the Pamban shore (Table 6). The exact depth is not known. Remarks. Conus gubernator appears to be a rare species along the TamilNadu Coast.Published as part of Franklin, J. Benjamin, Subramanian, K. A., Fernando, S. Antony & Krishnan, K. S., 2009, 2250, pp. 1-63 in Zootaxa 2250 on page 3
Conus Medullaris
No full textConus Medullaris is the tapered end of spinal cord (CM). The anomalies in the L1-L2 region results in the malfunction and then it is termed Conus Medullaris syndrome (CMS). This paper covers the major aspect of CMS
Background characterization of the CONUS+ experimental location
No full textCONUS+ is an experiment aiming at detecting coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CENS) of reactor antineutrinos on germanium nuclei in the fully coherent regime, continuing the CONUS physics program conducted at the Brokdorf nuclear power plant (KBR), Germany. The CONUS+ experiment is installed in the Leibstadt nuclear power plant (KKL), Switzerland, at a distance of 20.7 m from the 3.6 GW reactor core, where the antineutrino flux is ~scm. The CENS signature will be measured with four point-contact high-purity low energy threshold germanium (HPGe) detectors. A good understanding of the background is crucial, especially events correlated with the reactor thermal power are troublesome. A large background characterization campaign was conducted during reactor on and off times to find the best location for the CONUS+ setup. On-site measurements revealed a correlated, highly thermalized neutron field with a maximum fluence rate of ~neutrons~dcm during reactor operation. The -ray background was studied with a HPGe detector without shield. The muon flux was examined using a liquid scintillator detector measuring (1073)~muons~sm, which corresponds to an average overburden of 7.4~m of water equivalent. The new background conditions in CONUS+ are compared to the previous CONUS ones, showing a 30 times higher flux of neutrons, but a 26 times lower component of reactor thermal power correlated -rays over 2.7 MeV. The lower CONUS+ overburden increases the number of muon-induced neutrons by 2.3 times and the flux of cosmogenic neutrons. Finally, all the measured rates are discussed in the context of the CONUS+ background, together with the CONUS+ modifications performed to reduce the impact of the new background conditions at KKL.19 pages, 15 figures, 6 table
Conus arenatus Hwass
No full text6. Conus arenatus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 (Figure 7) Conus arenatus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792: 621–622, no. 16 (lectotype, MHNG (35.5 x 19.5 mm) (Kohn 1968); "des Isles Philippines "). Cucullus arenosus Röding, 1798: 40, no. 494 (representation of lectotype, Martini 1773: pl. 63, fig. 696 (Kohn 1975); locality unknown). Cucullus stercusmuscarum Röding, 1798: 40, no. 495 (representation of lectotype, Martini 1773: pl. 63, fig. 697 (25 x 13 mm) (Kohn 1975); locality unknown). Conus arenatus var. punctisminutissimus Lamarck, 1822: 452, no. 18b. Conus arenatus var. granulosa Lamarck, 1822: 452, no. 18c. Conus arenatus var. mesokatharos Tryon, 1883: 18, pl. 27, fig. 2 (holotype, NMWC (28 x 15 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); locality unknown). Conus aequipunctata Dautzenberg, 1937: 31, pl. 1, fig. 2 (holotype, IRSN (55 x 32 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); "the Red Sea coast at Jiddah (Saudi Arabia)"). Conus arenatus var. undata Dautzenberg, 1937: 31, pl. 1, fig. 3 ("Amboine"). Conus arenatus var. granulosa Dautzenberg, 1937: 32, pl. 1, fig. 4 ("Amboine"). Conus arenatus bizona Coomans, 1981: 16–18, figs. 98, 131 (holotype, ZMA (35 x 20 mm) (Röckel et al. 1995); " Malindi, Kenya "). Material examined: MBMCS 106, 8 specimens, SL 25–42 mm; SW 12–18 mm. Description. Shell medium sized to large, moderately solid to moderately heavy. Body whorl ventricosely conical, outline convex. Siphonal fasciole distinct, occasionally separated from basal zone by an incision. Shoulder rounded, indistincty tuberculate. Spire low, outline moderately convex. Body whorl with weak spiral ribs at base, ribs granulose and extend to shoulder in small shells. Aperture narrow posteriorly, wide anteriorly; outer lip thick, convex. Ground colour white. Body whorl with spiral rows of widely spaced brown dots, clustered in two interrupted spiral bands, and one above centre and the other near the base; dotted areas often with underlying grey shadows, most conspicuous within spiral bands. White dashes often irregularly alternating with brown dots. Early spire whorls white. Spire with radial clusters of brown dots. Aperture white. Distribution. Kohn (1978) reported two museum specimens of C. arenatus, one from Tuticorin (at BMNH) and another labeled “ Bombay ” (at NMW). The specimens described herein were collected from Pamban (Table 6) by trawling in 10–40 m. Remarks. The last whorl has widely spaced dark brown dots, as opposed to narrowly spaced dots reported by Kohn (1978).Published as part of Franklin, J. Benjamin, Subramanian, K. A., Fernando, S. Antony & Krishnan, K. S., 2009, 2250, pp. 1-63 in Zootaxa 2250 on pages 19-2
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