1,652 research outputs found

    Revision of the genus \u3ci\u3eChiasognathus\u3c/i\u3e Stephens of southern South America with the description of a new species (Coleoptera, Lucanidae, Lucaninae, Chiasognathini)

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    The genus Chiasognathus Stephens is revised and now consists of seven species, all of which are endemic to southern South America. Th e genus-level names Bomansodus Chalumeau & Brochier, Carmeniella Molino-Olmedo, and Ramireziella Molino-Olmedo are all confirmed to be synonyms of Chiasognathus. A new species of Chiasognathus is described from the Biobío Region of Chile. Th e species Chiasognathus mniszechii Thomson is removed from synonymy and is a valid species with Chiasognathus schoenemanni Kriesche as its junior synonym. In order to promote nomenclatural stability, a lectotype is designated for the name Chiasognathus reichei Thomson, and a neotype is designated for the name Chiasognathus pygmaeus Dallas

    Revision of the genus \u3ci\u3eChiasognathus\u3c/i\u3e Stephens of southern South America with the description of a new species (Coleoptera, Lucanidae, Lucaninae, Chiasognathini)

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    The genus Chiasognathus Stephens is revised and now consists of seven species, all of which are endemic to southern South America. Th e genus-level names Bomansodus Chalumeau & Brochier, Carmeniella Molino-Olmedo, and Ramireziella Molino-Olmedo are all confirmed to be synonyms of Chiasognathus. A new species of Chiasognathus is described from the Biobío Region of Chile. Th e species Chiasognathus mniszechii Thomson is removed from synonymy and is a valid species with Chiasognathus schoenemanni Kriesche as its junior synonym. In order to promote nomenclatural stability, a lectotype is designated for the name Chiasognathus reichei Thomson, and a neotype is designated for the name Chiasognathus pygmaeus Dallas

    Electron Spin Injection at a Schottky Contact

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    We investigate theoretically electrical spin injection at a Schottky contact between a spin-polarized electrode and a non-magnetic semiconductor. Current and electron density spin-polarizations are discussed as functions of barrier energy and semiconductor doping density. The effect of a spin-dependent interface resistance that results from a tunneling region at the contact/semiconductor interface is described. The model can serve as a guide for designing spin-injection experiments with regard to the interface properties and device structure.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

    Biological evidence supports an early and complex emergence of the Isthmus of Panama.

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    The linking of North and South America by the Isthmus of Panama had major impacts on global climate, oceanic and atmospheric currents, and biodiversity, yet the timing of this critical event remains contentious. The Isthmus is traditionally understood to have fully closed by ca. 3.5 million years ago (Ma), and this date has been used as a benchmark for oceanographic, climatic, and evolutionary research, but recent evidence suggests a more complex geological formation. Here, we analyze both molecular and fossil data to evaluate the tempo of biotic exchange across the Americas in light of geological evidence. We demonstrate significant waves of dispersal of terrestrial organisms at approximately ca. 20 and 6 Ma and corresponding events separating marine organisms in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at ca. 23 and 7 Ma. The direction of dispersal and their rates were symmetrical until the last ca. 6 Ma, when northern migration of South American lineages increased significantly. Variability among taxa in their timing of dispersal or vicariance across the Isthmus is not explained by the ecological factors tested in these analyses, including biome type, dispersal ability, and elevation preference. Migration was therefore not generally regulated by intrinsic traits but more likely reflects the presence of emergent terrain several millions of years earlier than commonly assumed. These results indicate that the dramatic biotic turnover associated with the Great American Biotic Interchange was a long and complex process that began as early as the Oligocene-Miocene transition

    Grain Destruction in Interstellar Shocks

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    Interstellar shock waves can erode and destroy grains present in the shocked gas, primarily as the result of sputtering and grain-grain collisions. Uncertainties in current estimates of sputtering yields are reviewed. Results are presented for the simple case of sputtering of fast grains being stopped in cold gas. An upper limit is derived for sputtering of refractory grains in C-type MHD shocks: shock speeds v_s \gtrsim 50 \kms are required for return of more than 30\% of the silicate to the gas phase. Sputtering can also be important for removing molecular ice mantles from grains in two-fluid MHD shock waves in molecular gas. Recent estimates of refractory grain lifetimes against destruction in shock waves are summarized, and the implications of these short lifetimes are discussed.Comment: To appear in Shocks in Astrophysics, ed. T.J. Millar. Talk given at conference Shocks in Astrophysics, Manchester, Jan. 1995. 13 pages with 6 figures: uuencoded compressed postscript. Also available as POPe-633 on http://astro.princeton.edu/~library/prep.htm

    Spin-Polarized Electron Transport at Ferromagnet/Semiconductor Schottky Contacts

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    We theoretically investigate electron spin injection and spin-polarization sensitive current detection at Schottky contacts between a ferromagnetic metal and an n-type or p-type semiconductor. We use spin-dependent continuity equations and transport equations at the drift-diffusion level of approximation. Spin-polarized electron current and density in the semiconductor are described for four scenarios corresponding to the injection or the collection of spin polarized electrons at Schottky contacts to n-type or p-type semiconductors. The transport properties of the interface are described by a spin-dependent interface resistance, resulting from an interfacial tunneling region. The spin-dependent interface resistance is crucial for achieving spin injection or spin polarization sensitivity in these configurations. We find that the depletion region resulting from Schottky barrier formation at a metal/semiconductor interface is detrimental to both spin injection and spin detection. However, the depletion region can be tailored using a doping density profile to minimize these deleterious effects. For example, a heavily doped region near the interface, such as a delta-doped layer, can be used to form a sharp potential profile through which electrons tunnel to reduce the effective Schottky energy barrier that determines the magnitude of the depletion region. The model results indicate that efficient spin-injection and spin-polarization detection can be achieved in properly designed structures and can serve as a guide for the structure design.Comment: RevTex

    Localization of protein kinase C ε to macrophage vacuoles perforated by Listeria monocytogenes cytolysin

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    Three proteins secreted by Listeria monocytogenes facilitate escape from macrophage vacuoles: the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin listeriolysin O (LLO), a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and a broad-range phospholipase C (PC-PLC). LLO and PI-PLC can activate several members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family during infection. PKCε is a novel PKC that contributes to macrophage activation, defence against bacterial infection, and phagocytosis; however, a role for PKCε in Lm infections has not been described. To study PKCε dynamics, PKCε-YFP chimeras were visualized in macrophages during Lm infection. PKCε-YFP was recruited to forming vacuoles during macrophage phagocytosis of Lm and again later to fully formed Lm vacuoles. The PKCε-YFP localization to the fully formed Lm vacuole was LLO-dependent but independent of PI-PLC or PC-PLC. PKCε-YFP recruitment often followed LLO perforation of the membrane, as indicated by localization of PKCε-YFP to Lm vacuoles after they released small fluorescent dyes into the cytoplasm. PKCε-YFP recruitment to vesicles also followed phagocytosis of LLO-containing liposomes or osmotic lysis of endocytic vesicles, indicating that vacuole perforation by LLO was the chief cause of the PKCε response. These studies implicate PKCε in a cellular mechanism for recognizing damaged membranous organelles, including the disrupted vacuoles created when Lm escapes into cytoplasm.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73267/1/j.1462-5822.2007.00903.x.pd

    Electric-field dependent spin diffusion and spin injection into semiconductors

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    We derive a drift-diffusion equation for spin polarization in semiconductors by consistently taking into account electric-field effects and nondegenerate electron statistics. We identify a high-field diffusive regime which has no analogue in metals. In this regime there are two distinct spin diffusion lengths. Furthermore, spin injection from a ferromagnetic metal into a semiconductor is enhanced by several orders of magnitude and spins can be transported over distances much greater than the low-field spin diffusion length.Comment: 5 pages, 3 eps figure
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