77,577 research outputs found
Sluggishness in the phase transformation in solid C<SUB>70</SUB>
In an earlier paper [G. Ghosh, V.S. Sastry, C.S. Sundar, T.S. Radhakrishnan, Solid State Commun. 105 (1998) 247] we have reported that at low temperatures the ideal hcp (c/a~1.63) solid C70transforms to a monoclinic structure, in a single step. The transition is broadened over a temperature interval of about 100 K, for a cooling rate ~0.0033 K/min, indicating the coexistence of two phases in this temperature range. The width of broadening is cooling-rate dependent [G. Ghosh, V.S. Sastry, C.S. Sundar, S. Sengupta, T.S. Radhakrishnan, Phys. Rev. B 58 (1998) 14 094]. We have observed experimentally that the transition from hcp to monoclinic in the solid C70 is sluggish which may cause the broadening in the transition. Our mean-field calculation in this paper, using the Landau free energy functional, indicates that the sluggishness originates from the growing interface due to the elastic strain between the two phases
Use of the 13C-sucrose breath test to assess small bowel integrity in methotrexate-induced mucositis following zinc supplementation in metallothionein-knockout and wild-type mice
Oral presentation. Published in a Special Issue: Abstracts of the Australia & New Zealand Medical & Surgical Gastrointestinal Week 2009, 21-24 October 2009, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaC. D. Tran, S. Sundar, G. S. Howarth and R. N. Butle
Measurement of the ratio of prompt χ c to J / ψ production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV
The prompt production of charmonium χ c and J / ψ states is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The χ c and J / ψ mesons are identified through their decays χ c → J / ψ γ and J / ψ → μ + μ - using 36 pb - 1 of data collected by the LHCb detector in 2010. The ratio of the prompt production cross-sections for χ c and J / ψ, σ (χ c → J / ψ γ) / σ (J / ψ), is determined as a function of the J / ψ transverse momentum in the range 2 < p T J / ψ < 15 GeV / c. The results are in excellent agreement with next-to-leading order non-relativistic expectations and show a significant discrepancy compared with the colour singlet model prediction at leading order, especially in the low p T J / ψ region
Deletion of vitamin D receptor leads to premature emphysema/COPD by increased matrix metalloproteinases and lymphoid aggregates formation
Deficiency of vitamin D is associated with accelerated decline in lung function. Vitamin D is a ligand for nuclear hormone vitamin D receptor (VDR), and upon binding it modulates various cellular functions. The level of VDR is reduced in lungs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which led us to hypothesize that deficiency of VDR leads to significant alterations in lung phenotype that are characteristics of COPD/emphysema associated with increased inflammatory response. We found that VDR knock-out (VDR(-/-)) mice had increased influx of inflammatory cells, phospho-acetylation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) associated with increased proinflammatory mediators, and up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-12 in the lung. This was associated with emphysema and decline in lung function associated with lymphoid aggregates formation compared to WT mice. These findings suggest that deficiency of VDR in mouse lung can lead to an early onset of emphysema/COPD because of chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and lung destruction
Prompt charm production in pp collisions at √<span style="text-decoration:overline">s</span>=7 TeV
Charm production at the LHC in pp collisions at s√=7 TeV is studied with the LHCb detector. The decays D0→K−π+, D+→K−π+π+, D⁎+→D0(K−π+)π+, D+s→ϕ(K−K+)π+, Λ+c→pK−π+, and their charge conjugates are analysed in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 15 nb−1. Differential cross-sections dσ/dpT are measured for prompt production of the five charmed hadron species in bins of transverse momentum and rapidity in the region 0<pT<8 GeV/c and 2.0<y<4.5. Theoretical predictions are compared to the measured differential cross-sections. The integrated cross-sections of the charm hadrons are computed in the above pT-y range, and their ratios are reported. A combination of the five integrated cross-section measurements gives
σ(cc¯)pT<8 GeV/c,2.0<y<4.5=1419±12(stat)±116(syst)±65(frag) μb,
where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the fragmentation functions
Interaction of BAG1 and Hsp70 mediates neuroprotectivity and increases chaperone activity
It was recently shown that Bcl-2-associated athanogene 1 (BAG1) is a potent neuroprotectant as well as a marker of neuronal differentiation. Since there appears to exist an equilibrium within the cell between BAG1 binding to heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and BAG1 binding to Raf-1 kinase, we hypothesized that changing BAG1 binding characteristics might significantly alter BAG1 function. To this end, we compared rat CSM14.1 cells and human SHSY-5Y cells stably overexpressing full-length BAG1 or a deletion mutant (BAG Delta C) no longer capable of binding to Hsp70. Using a novel yellow fluorescent protein-based foldase biosensor, we demonstrated an upregulation of chaperone in situ activity in cells overexpressing full-length BAG1 but not in cells overexpressing BAG Delta C compared to wild-type cells. Interestingly, in contrast to the nuclear and cytosolic localizations of full-length BAG1, BAG Delta C was expressed exclusively in the cytosol. Furthermore, cells expressing BAG Delta C were no longer protected against cell death. However, they still showed accelerated neuronal differentiation. Together, these results suggest that BAG1-induced activation of Hsp70 is important for neuroprotectivity, while BAG1-dependent modulation of neuronal differentiation in vitro is not
Seed source and region effects on growth rate and survival of blue spruce (Picea pungens) Christmas trees in New Jersey
Seedlings from five different seed sources of blue spruce Christmas trees were planted at five sites throughout New Jersey. Two sites in northern New Jersey and one in central New Jersey had significantly higher survival rates than the two in southern New Jersey. Additionally, the two sites in northern New Jersey had significantly faster growth rates than those in southern and central New Jersey. There were no significant differences in survival rates between seed sources. In terms of growth rates, however, seedlings from seeds obtained in Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico grew significantly faster than seedlings from the other seed sources tested. This forther growth rate is predicted to shorten the time needed to reach marketability size by one to five years
Measurement of the inclusive φ cross-section in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV
The cross-section for inclusive φ meson production in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV has been measured with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The differential cross-section is measured as a function of the φ transverse momentum pT and rapidity y in the region 0.6< pT <5.0 GeV/c and 2.44< y <4.06. The cross-section for inclusive φ production in this kinematic range is σ(pp→φX)=1758±19(stat) +43−14(syst)±182(scale) μb, where the first systematic uncertainty depends on the pT and y region and the second is related to the overall scale. Predictions based on the Pythia 6.4 generator underestimate the cross-section
Review of “St. Clive:” An Eastern Orthodox Author Looks Back at C. S. Lewis
Review of C. J. S. Hayward, “St. Clive:” An Eastern Orthodox Author Looks Back at C. S. Lewis (Wheaton, Illinois: C. J. S. Hayward Publications, 2000-19). 381 pages. $49.99. ISBN 9781794669956
Observations of Bºs→ψ(2S)η and Bº(s)→ψ(2S)π+π- decays
First observations of the B0s
→ψ(2S)η, B0 →ψ(2S)π
+
π
− and B0s
→ψ(2S)π
+
π
− decays are made
using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1 collected by the LHCb experiment in
proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of
√
s = 7 TeV. The ratios of the branching fractions
of each of the ψ(2S) modes with respect to the corresponding J/ψ decays are
B(B0s
→ψ(2S)η)
÷
B(B0s
→J/ψη)
= 0.83± 0.14 (stat)±0.12 (syst) ±0.02 (B),
;
B(B0→ψ(2S)π
+
π
−
)
÷
B(B0→J/ψπ
+
π
−
)
= 0.56± 0.07 (stat)±0.05 (syst)± 0.01 (B),
;
B(B0s
→ψ(2S)π
+
π
−
)
÷
B(B0s
→J/ψπ
+
π
−
)
= 0.34± 0.04 (stat)±0.03 (syst)± 0.01 (B),
where the third uncertainty corresponds to the uncertainties of the dilepton branching fractions of the J/ψ
and ψ(2S) meson decays
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