587 research outputs found
Characterization of transport and magnetic properties in thin film La(0.67)(Ca(x)Sr(1-x))(0.33)MnO(3) mixtures
We have grown thin films of (100) oriented
La_{0.67}(Ca_{x}Sr_{1-x})_{0.33}MnO_{3} on (100) NdGaO_{3} substrates by
off-axis sputtering. We have looked at the changes in the resistivity and
magnetoresistance of the samples as the Ca/Sr ratio was varied. We find that as
the calcium fraction is decreased, the lattice match to the substrate
decreases, and the films become more disordered, as observed in transport
measurements and the variation in Curie and peak resistance temperatures. We
find a correlation between the temperature independent and T^2 terms to the low
temperature resistivity. The room temperature magnetoresistance exhibits a
maximum as the peak temperature is increased by the substitution of Sr for Ca,
and a change in the field dependence to the resistivity at room temperature is
observed.Comment: 5 pages, 6 eps figures, to be published in Journal of Applied Physic
Mycobiome of the Bat White Nose Syndrome (WNS) Affected Caves and Mines reveals High Diversity of Fungi and Local Adaptation by the Fungal Pathogen Pseudogymnoascus (Geomyces) destructans
The investigations of the bat White Nose Syndrome (WNS) have yet to provide
answers as to how the causative fungus Pseudogymnoascus (Geomyces) destructans
(Pd) first appeared in the Northeast and how a single clone has spread rapidly
in the US and Canada. We aimed to catalogue Pd and all other fungi (mycobiome)
by the culture-dependent (CD) and culture-independent (CI) methods in four
Mines and two Caves from the epicenter of WNS zoonotic. Six hundred sixty-five
fungal isolates were obtained by CD method including the live recovery of Pd.
Seven hundred three nucleotide sequences that met the definition of operational
taxonomic units (OTUs) were recovered by CI methods. Most OTUs belonged to
unidentified clones deposited in the databases as environmental nucleic acid
sequences (ENAS). The core mycobiome of WNS affected sites comprised of 46
species of fungi from 31 genera recovered in culture, and 17 fungal genera and
31 ENAS identified from clone libraries. Fungi such as Arthroderma spp.,
Geomyces spp., Kernia spp., Mortierella spp., Penicillium spp., and
Verticillium spp. were predominant in culture while Ganoderma spp., Geomyces
spp., Mortierella spp., Penicillium spp. and Trichosporon spp. were abundant is
clone libraries. Alpha diversity analyses from CI data revealed that fungal
community structure was highly diverse. However, the true species diversity
remains undetermined due to under sampling. The frequent recovery of Pd
indicated that the pathogen has adapted to WNS-afflicted habitats. Further,
this study supports the hypothesis that Pd is an introduced species. These
findings underscore the need for integrated WNS control measures that target
both bats and the fungal pathogen.Comment: 59 pages, 7figure
The influence of neighborhood characteristics on police officers\u27 encounters with persons suspected to have a serious mental illness
Objective: Police officers\u27 decisions and behaviors are impacted by the neighborhood context in which police encounters occur. For example, officers may use greater force and be more likely to make arrests in disadvantaged neighborhoods. We examined whether neighborhood characteristics influence police encounters with individuals suspected to have a serious mental illness, addictive disorder, or developmental disability. Method: We obtained data on 916 encounters from 166 officers in six jurisdictions in Georgia, USA and abstracted geographical data pertaining to the location of these encounters from United States Decennial Census data. Encounters were nested within 163 census tracts. Officer-reported data covered general encounter characteristics, the officer\u27s perception of the subject\u27s condition, subject demographics, use of force, and disposition of the encounter (e.g., arrest v. referral or transport to treatment services). Geographical data included 17 variables representing population and housing characteristics of the census tracts, from which three indices pertaining to neighborhood income, stability, and immigration status were derived using factor-analytic techniques. We then examined associations of these indices with various encounter-related variables using multi-level analysis. Results: Encounters taking place in higher-income and higher-stability census tracts were more likely to be dispatch-initiated and take place in a private home compared to those in lower-income and lower-stability neighborhoods. In higher-income neighborhoods, encounters were more likely to involve a subject suspected to have a mental illness (as opposed to an addictive disorder or developmental disability) and less likely to involve a subject suspected to have alcohol problems. The officer\u27s level of force used was not associated with neighborhood factors. Regarding disposition, although the likelihood of arrest was unrelated to neighborhood characteristics, encounters taking place in higher-immigrant neighborhoods were more likely to result in referral or transport to services than those in lower-immigrant neighborhoods. Conclusion: Neighborhood characteristics are important to consider in research on police interactions with individuals with serious mental illnesses, addictive disorders, or developmental disabilities. Such research could inform departmental training policies and procedures based on the needs of the jurisdictions served. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
ZFOURGE: Using Composite Spectral Energy Distributions to Characterize Galaxy Populations at 1<z<4
We investigate the properties of galaxies as they shut off star formation
over the 4 billion years surrounding peak cosmic star formation. To do this we
categorize galaxies from into groups based on the shape
of their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and build composite SEDs with
resolution. These composite SEDs show a variety of spectral shapes
and also show trends in parameters such as color, mass, star formation rate,
and emission line equivalent width. Using emission line equivalent widths and
strength of the 4000\AA\ break, , we categorize the composite SEDs
into five classes: extreme emission line, star-forming, transitioning,
post-starburst, and quiescent galaxies. The transitioning population of
galaxies show modest H emission (\AA) compared to
more typical star-forming composite SEDs at
(\AA). Together with their smaller sizes (3 kpc vs. 4 kpc)
and higher S\'ersic indices (2.7 vs. 1.5), this indicates that morphological
changes initiate before the cessation of star formation. The transitional group
shows a strong increase of over one dex in number density from to
, similar to the growth in the quiescent population, while
post-starburst galaxies become rarer at . We calculate average
quenching timescales of 1.6 Gyr at and 0.9 Gyr at and
conclude that a fast quenching mechanism producing post-starbursts dominated
the quenching of galaxies at early times, while a slower process has become
more common since .Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa
The three-dimensional structure of the biotin carboxylase-biotin carboxyl carrier protein complex of E. coli acetyl-CoA carboxylase
Acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) carboxylase is a biotin-dependent, multifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the regulated step in fatty acid synthesis. The Escherichia coli enzyme is composed of a homodimeric biotin carboxylase (BC), biotinylated biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP), and an α2β2 heterotetrameric carboxyltransferase. This enzyme complex catalyzes two half-reactions to form malonyl-coenzyme A. BC and BCCP participate in the first half-reaction, whereas carboxyltransferase and BCCP are involved in the second. Three-dimensional structures have been reported for the individual subunits; however, the structural basis for how BCCP reacts with the carboxylase or transferase is unknown. Therefore, we report here the crystal structure of E. coli BCCP complexed with BC to a resolution of 2.49 Å. The protein-protein complex shows a unique quaternary structure and two distinct interfaces for each BCCP monomer. These BCCP binding sites are unique compared to phylogenetically related biotin-dependent carboxylases and therefore provide novel targets for developing antibiotics against bacterial acetyl-CoA carboxylase. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd
Search for the Neutron Decay n X+ where X is a dark matter particle
In a recent paper submitted to Physical Review Letters, Fornal and Grinstein
have suggested that the discrepancy between two different methods of neutron
lifetime measurements, the beam and bottle methods can be explained by a
previously unobserved dark matter decay mode, n X+ where X
is a dark matter particle. We have performed a search for this decay mode over
the allowed range of energies of the monoenergetic gamma ray for X to be a dark
matter particle. We exclude the possibility of a sufficiently strong branch to
explain the lifetime discrepancy with greater than 4 sigma confidence.Comment: 6 pages 3 figure
Measurement of the half-life of the T= mirror decay of Ne and its implication on physics beyond the standard model
The superallowed mixed mirror decay
of Ne to F is excellently suited for high precision studies of
the weak interaction. However, there is some disagreement on the value of the
half-life. In a new measurement we have determined this quantity to be
= s, which differs
from the previous world average by 3 standard deviations. The impact of this
measurement on limits for physics beyond the standard model such as the
presence of tensor currents is discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
emiT: an apparatus to test time reversal invariance in polarized neutron decay
We describe an apparatus used to measure the triple-correlation term (\D
\hat{\sigma}_n\cdot p_e\times p_\nu) in the beta-decay of polarized neutrons.
The \D-coefficient is sensitive to possible violations of time reversal
invariance. The detector has an octagonal symmetry that optimizes
electron-proton coincidence rates and reduces systematic effects. A beam of
longitudinally polarized cold neutrons passes through the detector chamber,
where a small fraction beta-decay. The final-state protons are accelerated and
focused onto arrays of cooled semiconductor diodes, while the coincident
electrons are detected using panels of plastic scintillator. Details regarding
the design and performance of the proton detectors, beta detectors and the
electronics used in the data collection system are presented. The neutron beam
characteristics, the spin-transport magnetic fields, and polarization
measurements are also described.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figure
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