Pathway for the production of neutron-rich isotopes around the N=126 shell closure

Absolute cross sections for isotopically identified products formed in multinucleon transfer in the Xe136+Pt198 system at ∼8MeV/nucleon are reported. The isotopic distributions obtained using a large acceptance spectrometer demonstrated the production of the "hard-to-reach" neutron-rich isotopes for Z<78 around the N=126 shell closure far from stability. The main contribution to the formation of these exotic nuclei is shown to arise in collisions with a small kinetic energy dissipation. The present experimental finding corroborates for the first time recent predictions that multinucleon transfer reactions would be the optimum method to populate and characterize neutron-rich isotopes around N=126 which are crucial for understanding both astrophysically relevant processes and the evolution of "magic" numbers far from stability

Cubic Augmentation of Planar Graphs

In this paper we study the problem of augmenting a planar graph such that it becomes 3-regular and remains planar. We show that it is NP-hard to decide whether such an augmentation exists. On the other hand, we give an efficient algorithm for the variant of the problem where the input graph has a fixed planar (topological) embedding that has to be preserved by the augmentation. We further generalize this algorithm to test efficiently whether a 3-regular planar augmentation exists that additionally makes the input graph connected or biconnected. If the input graph should become even triconnected, we show that the existence of a 3-regular planar augmentation is again NP-hard to decide.Comment: accepted at ISAAC 201

Divergent selection on opsins drives incipient speciation in Lake Victoria cichlids

Divergent natural selection acting on ecological traits, which also affect mate choice, is a key element of ecological speciation theory, but has not previously been demonstrated at the molecular gene level to our knowledge. Here we demonstrate parallel evolution in two cichlid genera under strong divergent selection in a gene that affects both. Strong divergent natural selection fixed opsin proteins with different predicted light absorbance properties at opposite ends of an environmental gradient. By expressing them and measuring absorbance, we show that the reciprocal fixation adapts populations to divergent light environments. The divergent evolution of the visual system coincides with divergence in male breeding coloration, consistent with incipient ecological by-product speciation

Protective effect of small molecule analogues of the Acanthocheilonema viteae secreted product ES-62 on oxazolone-induced ear inflammation

ES-62 is the major secreted protein of the rodent filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae. The molecule contains covalently attached phosphorylcholine (PC) residues, which confer anti-inflammatory properties on ES-62, underpinning the idea that drugs based on this active moiety may have therapeutic potential in human diseases associated with aberrant inflammation. Here we demonstrate that two synthetic small molecule analogues (SMAs) of ES-62 termed SMA 11a and SMA 12b are protective in the oxazolone-induced acute allergic contact dermatitis mouse model of skin inflammation, as measured by a significant reduction in ear inflammation following their administration before oxazolone sensitisation and before oxazolone challenge. Furthermore, it was found that when tested, 12b was effective at reducing ear swelling even when first administered before challenge. Histological analysis of the ears showed elevated cellular infiltration and collagen deposition in oxazolone-treated mice both of which were reduced by treatment with the two SMAs. Likewise, the oxazolone-induced increase in IFNγ mRNA in the ears was reduced but no effect on other cytokines investigated was observed. Finally, no influence on the mast cell populations in the ear was observed

Photodesorption of water ice: a molecular dynamics study

Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by water ice coating interstellar grains can lead to dissociation and desorption of the ice molecules. These processes are thought to be important in the gas-grain chemistry in molecular clouds and protoplanetary disks, but very few quantitative studies exist. We compute the photodesorption efficiencies of amorphous water ice and elucidate the mechanisms by which desorption occurs. Classical molecular dynamics calculations were performed for a compact amorphous ice surface at 10 K thought to be representative of interstellar ice. Dissociation and desorption of H2O molecules in the top six monolayers are considered following absorption into the first excited electronic state with photons in the 1300-1500 Angstrom range. The trajectories of the H and OH photofragments are followed until they escape or become trapped in the ice. The probability for H2O desorption per absorbed UV photon is 0.5-1% in the top three monolayers, then decreases to 0.03% in the next two monolayers, and is negligible deeper into the ice. The main H2O removal mechanism in the top two monolayers is through separate desorption of H and OH fragments. Removal of H2O molecules from the ice, either as H2O itself or its products, has a total probability of 2-3% per absorbed UV photon in the top two monolayers. In the third monolayer the probability is about 1% and deeper into the ice the probability of photodesorption falling to insignificant numbers. The probability of any removal of H2O per incident photon is estimated to be 3.7x10^-4, with the probability for photodesorption of intact H2O molecules being 1.4x10^-4 per incident photon. When no desorption occurs, the H and OH products can travel up to 70 and 60 Angstroms inside or on top of the surface during which they can react with other species.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, A&A, in pres

Characteristics Of Hydrothermal Alteration In Cijulang Area, West Java, Indonesia

Characterization of hydrothermal alteration in theCijulang area (West Java, Indonesia) was carriedout using shortwave infrared spectroscopy. Hydrothermal alteration in the Cijulang area occurs in the calc-alkaline volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. Shortwave infrared spectroscopic measurements of reflectance for altered rocks and minerals were carried out by ASD-FieldSpec and the laboratory spectra acquired were then analysed with “The Spectral Geologist” software program. Shortwave infrared spectroscopy is capable of detecting most finegrained alteration minerals from different hydrothermal alteration zones. Characteristic alteration minerals identified from the SWIR technique include pyrophyllite, alunite, kaolinite, dickite, illite, montmorillonite, polygorskite, gypsum, epidote, paragonite, and muscovite. Most of the spectra show mixture ofalteration minerals and only a few display pure spectra of single mineral. The crystallinity of kaolinite from the samples was also determined from the reflectance spectra and show moderately to high crystallinity. Alteration system of the Cijulang prospectis similar to others documented high-sulfidation epithermal deposits, such as Rodalquilar (Spain), Summitville (Colorado), and Lepanto (Philippines). A characteristic alteration sequence and zonation of advanced argillic, argillic and propylitic alterationoutward from the silica core has resulted from the progressive cooling and neutralization of hot acidic magmatic fluid with the host rocks.Keywords: Cijulang, High-sulfidation, Alteration minerals, Shortwave Infrared Spectroscop

Infection prevention and control standards and associated factors: Case study of the level of knowledge and practices among nurses in a Saudi Arabian hospital

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is a significant public health issue. HAI is a problem in both developed and developing countries. Treating HAIs is a significant burden on healthcare budgets. This study was performed to assess the knowledge about infection prevention and control (IPC) and IPC practices of nurses working in a Saudi hospital, and to examine the association between the nurses’ demographic characteristics and work/training experience with their level of knowledge about and practices towards maintaining IPC standards. Methods: A quantitative method was used, with a response rate of 81.1%. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted of randomly selected male and female nurses of all nationalities who came in direct contact with patients while providing healthcare services at King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh (KAMC-R) (n=308). Principle component analysis (PCA) was used to generate knowledge and practices scores, and the scores were classified into two categories (high, low) at the median. Results: The majority of the participants were females (89.3%). The result of logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between a high education level and high scores for IPC knowledge [AOR=2.72, 95% CI=1.45-5.10] and practices [ AOR=3.66, 95% CI=1.90-7.05], after controlling for other confounding variables. Conclusion: High scores for IPC knowledge and IPC practices were independently associated with a high level of education of the nurses. Further studies to develop effective programs for IPC regardless of the nurses’ educational attainment are recommended

Predicion of charge separation in GaAs/AlAs cylindrical Russian Doll nanostructures

We have contrasted the quantum confinement of (i) multiple quantum wells of flat GaAs and AlAs layers, i.e. (\GaAs)_{m}/(\AlAs)_n/(\GaAs)_p/(\AlAs)_q, with (ii) ``cylindrical Russian Dolls'' -- an equivalent sequence of wells and barriers arranged as concentric wires. Using a pseudopotential plane-wave calculation, we identified theoretically a set of numbers ($m,n,p$ and $q$) such that charge separation can exist in ``cylindrical Russian Dolls'': the CBM is localized in the inner GaAs layer, while the VBM is localized in the outer GaAs layer.Comment: latex, 8 page

Assessment of allelopathic potential of selected medicinal plants of Pakistan

Inula falconeri, Inula koelzii, Lactuca dissecta and Anthemis nobilis were collected from Himalaya and Hindukush ranges of Pakistan and their allelopathic effect was studied through Sandwich and Homogenated Sandwich methods. The study also aimed at analyzing whether method andconcentration can affect the overall results. The results showed that method has no significant value; however, concentration of leaf leachates has highly significant value for exploring the inhibition or stimulation pattern of the plant species

Photodissociation of water in crystalline ice: a molecular dynamics study

Ultraviolet irradiation of ice is of great interest for understanding the chemistry in both atmospheric and astrophysical environments. In interstellar space, photodissociation of H2O molecules can be a driving force behind the chemistry on icy dust grains in dense, cold molecular clouds even though the flux of UV photons is extremely low. The mechanisms of such photoinduced processes are poorly understood, however. In this work the photodissociation dynamics of a water molecule in crystalline ice at 10 K is studied computationally using classical molecular dynamics. Photodissociation in the first bilayer leads mainly to H atoms desorbing (65%), while in the third bilayer trapping of H and OH dominates (51%). The kinetic energy distribution of the desorbing H atoms is much broader than that for the corresponding gas-phase photodissociation. The H atoms on average move 11 Angstroms before becoming trapped, while OH radicals typically move 2 Angstroms. In accordance with experiments a blueshift of the absorption spectrum is obtained relative to gas-phase water.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figure