Total Chiral Symmetry Breaking during Crystallization: Who needs a "Mother Crystal"?

Processes that can produce states of broken chiral symmetry are of particular interest to physics, chemistry and biology. Chiral symmetry breaking during crystallization of sodium chlorate occurs via the production of secondary crystals of the same handedness from a single "mother crystal" that seeds the solution. Here we report that a large and "symmetric" population of D- and L-crystals moves into complete chiral purity disappearing one of the enantiomers. This result shows: (i) a new symmetry breaking process incompatible with the hypothesis of a single "mother crystal"; (ii) that complete symmetry breaking and chiral purity can be achieved from an initial system with both enantiomers. These findings demand a new explanation to the process of total symmetry breaking in crystallization without the intervention of a "mother crystal" and open the debate on this fascinating phenomenon. We present arguments to show that our experimental data can been explained with a new model of "complete chiral purity induced by nonlinear autocatalysis and recycling".Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Added reference

The Nature of the Dense Core Population in the Pipe Nebula: Thermal Cores Under Pressure

In this paper we present the results of a systematic investigation of an entire population of starless dust cores within a single molecular cloud. Analysis of extinction data shows the cores to be dense objects characterized by a narrow range of density. Analysis of C18O and NH3 molecular-line observations reveals very narrow lines. The non-thermal velocity dispersions measured in both these tracers are found to be subsonic for the large majority of the cores and show no correlation with core mass (or size). Thermal pressure is thus the dominate source of internal gas pressure and support for most of the core population. The total internal gas pressures of the cores are found to be roughly independent of core mass over the entire range of the core mass function (CMF) indicating that the cores are in pressure equilibrium with an external source of pressure. This external pressure is most likely provided by the weight of the surrounding Pipe cloud within which the cores are embedded. Most of the cores appear to be pressure confined, gravitationally unbound entities whose nature, structure and future evolution are determined by only a few physical factors which include self-gravity, the fundamental processes of thermal physics and the simple requirement of pressure equilibrium with the surrounding environment. The observed core properties likely constitute the initial conditions for star formation in dense gas. The entire core population is found to be characterized by a single critical Bonnor-Ebert mass. This mass coincides with the characteristic mass of the Pipe CMF indicating that most cores formed in the cloud are near critical stability. This suggests that the mass function of cores (and the IMF) has its origin in the physical process of thermal fragmentation in a pressurized medium.Comment: To appear in the Astrophysical Journa

Absorption corrections for x-ray fluorescence analysis of environmental samples

The discovery of a very simple and useful relationship between the absorption coefficient of a particular element and the ratio of incoherent to coherent scattering by the sample containing the element is discussed. By measuring the absorption coefficients for a few elements in a few samples, absorption coefficients for many elements in an entire set of similar samples can be obtained. (auth

Proportion Regulation in Globally Coupled Nonlinear Systems

As a model of proportion regulation in differentiation process of biological system, globally coupled activator-inhibitor systems are studied. Formation and destabilization of one and two cluster state are predicted analytically. Numerical simulations show that the proportion of units of clusters is chosen within a finite range and it is selected depend on the initial condition.Comment: 11 pages (revtex format) and 5 figures (PostScript)

Complete homochirality induced by the nonlinear autocatalysis and recycling

A nonlinear autocatalysis of a chiral substance is shown to achieve homochirality in a closed system, if the back-reaction is included. Asymmetry in the concentration of two enantiomers or the enantiometric excess increases due to the nonlinear autocatalysis. Furthermore, when the back-reaction is taken into account, the reactant supplied by the decomposition of the enantiomers is recycled to produce more and more the dominant one, and eventually the homochirality is established.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Second Low Temperature Phase Transition in Frustrated UNi_4B

Hexagonal UNi_4B is magnetically frustrated, yet it orders antiferromagnetically at T_N = 20 K. However, one third of the U-spins remain paramagnetic below this temperature. In order to track these spins to lower temperature, we measured the specific heat C of \unib between 100 mK and 2 K, and in applied fields up to 9 T. For zero field there is a sharp kink in C at $T^\ast\approx$ 330 mK, which we interpret as an indication of a second phase transition involving paramagnetic U. The rise in $\gamma = C/T$ between 7 K and 330 mK and the absence of a large entropy liberated at $T^\ast$ may be due to a combination of Kondo screening effects and frustration that strongly modifies the low T transition.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

S=1/2 chains and spin-Peierls transition in TiOCl

We study TiOCl as an example of an S=1/2 layered Mott insulator. From our analysis of new susceptibility data, combined with LDA and LDA+U band structure calculations, we conclude that orbital ordering produces quasi-one-dimensional spin chains and that TiOCl is a new example of Heisenberg-chains which undergo a spin-Peierls transition. The energy scale is an order of magnitude larger than that of previously known examples. The effects of non-magnetic Sc impurities are explained using a model of broken finite chains.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures (color); details on crystal growth added; to be published in Phys. Rev.

Expanding Dress Code Requirements in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program

Although the use of a professional dress code is standard practice across colleges and schools of pharmacy during introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences, requiring professional attire is not applied consistently during the didactic portion of students’ education. There are arguments for and against the adoption of a professional dress code throughout the entire doctor of pharmacy program, including the classroom setting. Given uncertainty regarding the potential benefits and challenges that may arise from adopting a professional dress code in the didactic portion of a student pharmacist’s education, it is perhaps not surprising that programs adopt disparate policies regarding its use. This exploration was conducted as part of a series of debates held in conjunction with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s (AACP) Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP) and was presented at the 2015 AACP Interim Meeting on February 7, 2015

Magnetic Properties of (VO)_2P_2O_7 from Frustrated Interchain Coupling

Neutron-scattering experiments on (VO)_2P_2O_7 reveal both a gapped magnon dispersion and an unexpected, low-lying second mode. The proximity and intensity of these modes suggest a frustrated coupling between the alternating spin chains. We deduce the minimal model containing such a frustration, and show that it gives an excellent account of the magnon dispersion, static susceptibility and electron spin resonance absorption. We consider two-magnon states which bind due to frustration, and demonstrate that these may provide a consistent explanation for the second mode.Comment: RevTeX, 5 pages, 6 figures, compressed from first versio

Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT)-induced interstitial fibrosis in the lungs of rats is associated with increased levels of PDGF mRNA and the formation of unique intercellular carbon structures that bridge alveolar macrophages In Situ

BACKGROUND: Nanotechnology is a rapidly advancing industry with many new products already available to the public. Therefore, it is essential to gain an understanding of the possible health risks associated with exposure to nanomaterials and to identify biomarkers of exposure. In this study, we investigated the fibrogenic potential of SWCNT synthesized by chemical vapor deposition using cobalt (Co) and molybdenum (Mo) as catalysts. Following a single oropharyngeal aspiration of SWCNT in rats, we evaluated lung histopathology, cell proliferation, and growth factor mRNAs at 1 and 21 days post-exposure. Comparisons were made to vehicle alone (saline containing a biocompatible nonionic surfactant), inert carbon black (CB) nanoparticles, or vanadium pentoxide (V(2)O(5)) as a known inducer of fibrosis. RESULTS: SWCNT or CB caused no overt inflammatory response at 1 or 21 days post-exposure as determined by histopathology and evaluation of cells (>95% macrophages) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. However, SWCNT induced the formation of small, focal interstitial fibrotic lesions within the alveolar region of the lung at 21 days. A small fraction of alveolar macrophages harvested by BAL from the lungs of SWCNT-exposed rats at 21 days were bridged by unique intercellular carbon structures that extended into the cytoplasm of each macrophage. These "carbon bridge" structures between macrophages were also observed in situ in the lungs of SWCNT-exposed rats. No carbon bridges were observed in CB-exposed rats. SWCNT caused cell proliferation only at sites of fibrotic lesion formation as measured by bromodeoxyuridine uptake into alveolar cells. SWCNT increased platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A, PDGF-B, and PDGF-C mRNA levels significantly at 1 day as measured by Taqman quantitative real-time RT-PCR. At 21 days, SWCNT did not increase any mRNAs evaluated, while V(2)O(5 )significantly increased mRNAs encoding PDGF-A, -B, and -C chains, PDGF-Rα, osteopontin (OPN), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that SWCNT do not cause lung inflammation and yet induce the formation of small, focal interstital fibrotic lesioins in the alveolar region of the lungs of rats. Of greatest interest was the discovery of unique intercellular carbon structures composed of SWCNT that bridged lung macrophages. These "carbon bridges" offer a novel and easily identifiable biomarker of exposure