671 research outputs found
Crystal growth by precipitation under microgravity
The importance of understanding the mechanisms associated with defect generation during growth and the influence of gravity is stressed. An experiment is described. The advantages of adapting this experiment to the FES are then discussed. A brief survey of the ground based research under way is given
Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Model Misspecification Undermines Tests of the Neutral Theory for Life Histories
Understanding the processes behind change in reproductive state along life-history trajectories is a salient research program in evolutionary ecology. Two processes, state dependence and heterogeneity, can drive the dynamics of change among states. Both processes can operate simultaneously, begging the difficult question of how to tease them apart in practice. The Neutral Theory for Life Histories (NTLH) holds that the bulk of variations in life-history trajectories is due to state dependence and is hence neutral: Once previous (breeding) state is taken into account, variations are mostly random. Lifetime reproductive success (LRS), the number of descendants produced over an individual\u27s reproductive life span, has been used to infer support for NTLH in natura. Support stemmed from accurate prediction of the population-level distribution of LRS with parameters estimated from a state dependence model. We show with Monte Carlo simulations that the current reliance of NTLH on LRS prediction in a null hypothesis framework easily leads to selecting a misspecified model, biased estimates and flawed inferences. Support for the NTLH can be spurious because of a systematic positive bias in estimated state dependence when heterogeneity is present in the data but ignored in the analysis. This bias can lead to spurious positive covariance between fitness components when there is in fact an underlying trade-off. Furthermore, neutrality implied by NTLH needs a clarification because of a probable disjunction between its common understanding by evolutionary ecologists and its translation into statistical models of life-history trajectories. Irrespective of what neutrality entails, testing hypotheses about the dynamics of change among states in life histories requires a multimodel framework because state dependence and heterogeneity can easily be mistaken for each other
Simulations of Time-Resolved X-Ray Diffraction in Laue Geometry
A method of computer simulation of Time-Resolved X-ray Diffraction (TRXD) in
asymmetric Laue (transmission) geometry with an arbitrary propagating strain
perpendicular to the crystal surface is presented. We present two case studies
for possible strain generation by short-pulse laser irradiation: (i) a
thermoelastic-like analytic model; (ii) a numerical model including effects of
electron-hole diffusion, Auger recombination, deformation potential and thermal
diffusion. A comparison with recent experimental results is also presented.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figure
Time dependence of Bragg forward scattering and self-seeding of hard x-ray free-electron lasers
Free-electron lasers (FELs) can now generate temporally short, high power
x-ray pulses of unprecedented brightness, even though their longitudinal
coherence is relatively poor. The longitudinal coherence can be potentially
improved by employing narrow bandwidth x-ray crystal optics, in which case one
must also understand how the crystal affects the field profile in time and
space. We frame the dynamical theory of x-ray diffraction as a set of coupled
waves in order to derive analytic expressions for the spatiotemporal response
of Bragg scattering from temporally short incident pulses. We compute the
profiles of both the reflected and forward scattered x-ray pulses, showing that
the time delay of the wave is linked to its transverse spatial shift
through the simple relationship , where
is the grazing angle of incidence to the diffracting planes. Finally,
we apply our findings to obtain an analytic description of Bragg forward
scattering relevant to monochromatically seed hard x-ray FELs.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure
Prediction for new magnetoelectric fluorides
We use symmetry considerations in order to predict new magnetoelectric
fluorides. In addition to these magnetoelectric properties, we discuss among
these fluorides the ones susceptible to present multiferroic properties. We
emphasize that several materials present ferromagnetic properties. This
ferromagnetism should enhance the interplay between magnetic and dielectric
properties in these materials.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, To appear in Journal of Physics: Condensed
Matte
Mn incorporation in as-grown and annealed (Ga,Mn)As layers studied by x-ray diffraction and standing-wave uorescence
A combination of high-resolution x-ray diffraction and a new technique of
x-ray standing wave uorescence at grazing incidence is employed to study the
structure of (Ga,Mn)As diluted magnetic semiconductor and its changes during
post-growth annealing steps. We find that the film is formed by a uniform,
single crystallographic phase epilayer covered by a thin surface layer with
enhanced Mn concentration due to Mn atoms at random non-crystallographic
positions. In the epilayer, Mn incorporated at interstitial position has a
dominant effect on lattice expansion as compared to substitutional Mn. The
expansion coeffcient of interstitial Mn estimated from our data is consistent
with theory predictions. The concentration of interstitial Mn and the
corresponding lattice expansion of the epilayer are reduced by annealing,
accompanied by an increase of the density of randomly distributed Mn atoms in
the disordered surface layer. Substitutional Mn atoms remain stable during the
low-temperature annealing.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure
Neurodevelopmental defects in a mouse model of O-GlcNAc transferase intellectual disability
The addition of O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to proteins (referred to as O-GlcNAcylation) is a modification that is crucial for vertebrate development. O-GlcNAcylation is catalyzed by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and reversed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Missense variants of OGT have recently been shown to segregate with an X-linked syndromic form of intellectual disability, OGT-linked congenital disorder of glycosylation (OGT-CDG). Although the existence of OGT-CDG suggests that O-GlcNAcylation is crucial for neurodevelopment and/or cognitive function, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms remain unknown. Here we report a mouse line that carries a catalytically impaired OGT-CDG variant. These mice show altered O-GlcNAc homeostasis with decreased global O-GlcNAcylation and reduced levels of OGT and OGA in the brain. Phenotypic characterization of the mice revealed lower body weight associated with reduced body fat mass, short stature and microcephaly. This mouse model will serve as an important tool to study genotype-phenotype correlations in OGT-CDG in vivo and for the development of possible treatment avenues for this disorder.</p
Neurodevelopmental defects in a mouse model of O-GlcNAc transferase intellectual disability
The addition of O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to proteins (referred to as O-GlcNAcylation) is a modification that is crucial for vertebrate development. O-GlcNAcylation is catalyzed by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and reversed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Missense variants of OGT have recently been shown to segregate with an X-linked syndromic form of intellectual disability, OGT-linked congenital disorder of glycosylation (OGT-CDG). Although the existence of OGT-CDG suggests that O-GlcNAcylation is crucial for neurodevelopment and/or cognitive function, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms remain unknown. Here we report a mouse line that carries a catalytically impaired OGT-CDG variant. These mice show altered O-GlcNAc homeostasis with decreased global O-GlcNAcylation and reduced levels of OGT and OGA in the brain. Phenotypic characterization of the mice revealed lower body weight associated with reduced body fat mass, short stature and microcephaly. This mouse model will serve as an important tool to study genotype-phenotype correlations in OGT-CDG in vivo and for the development of possible treatment avenues for this disorder.</p
Dynamical Diffraction Theory for Wave Packet Propagation in Deformed Crystals
We develop a theory for the trajectory of an x ray in the presence of a
crystal deformation. A set of equations of motion for an x-ray wave packet
including the dynamical diffraction is derived, taking into account the Berry
phase as a correction to geometrical optics. The trajectory of the wave packet
has a shift of the center position due to a crystal deformation. Remarkably, in
the vicinity of the Bragg condition, the shift is enhanced by a factor (: frequency of an x ray, : gap frequency
induced by the Bragg reflection). Comparison with the conventional dynamical
diffraction theory is also made.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Title change
- …