5,376 research outputs found
Near-threshold high-order harmonic spectroscopy with aligned molecules
We study high-order harmonic generation in aligned molecules close to the
ionization threshold. Two distinct contributions to the harmonic signal are
observed, which show very different responses to molecular alignment and
ellipticity of the driving field. We perform a classical electron trajectory
analysis, taking into account the significant influence of the Coulomb
potential on the strong-field-driven electron dynamics. The two contributions
are related to primary ionization and excitation processes, offering a deeper
understanding of the origin of high harmonics near the ionization threshold.
This work shows that high harmonic spectroscopy can be extended to the
near-threshold spectral range, which is in general spectroscopically rich.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Music and drama in primary schools in the Madeira Island - Narratives of ownership and leadership
Este artigo foi uma das publicações resultantes do projeto financiado pela FCT "Música e Drama no 1º ciclo do Ensino básico – o caso da Região Autónoma da Madeira" (PTDC/CED/72112/2006).A three-year-case study funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology
(FCT) from the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher
Education was designed to study a 30-year project of music and drama in
primary schools in Madeira. This article reports on the narratives of the three
main figures in the project as they elaborate on its construction according to the
following themes: innovation, philosophies of music education and teacher
education. Through the lens of a narrative inquiry, the discourses produced are
analysed, taking into account the emerging concepts of ownership and leadership.
Attosecond time-resolved photoelectron holography
Ultrafast strong-field physics provides insight into quantum phenomena that evolve on an attosecond time scale, the most fundamental of which is quantum tunneling. The tunneling process initiates a range of strong field phenomena such as high harmonic generation (HHG), laser-induced electron diffraction, double ionization and photoelectron holography—all evolving during a fraction of the optical cycle. Here we apply attosecond photoelectron holography as a method to resolve the temporal properties of the tunneling process. Adding a weak second harmonic (SH) field to a strong fundamental laser field enables us to reconstruct the ionization times of photoelectrons that play a role in the formation of a photoelectron hologram with attosecond precision. We decouple the contributions of the two arms of the hologram and resolve the subtle differences in their ionization times, separated by only a few tens of attoseconds
5.5-7.5 MeV Proton generation by a moderate intensity ultra-short laser interaction with H2O nano-wire targets
We report on the first generation of 5.5-7.5 MeV protons by a moderate
intensity short-pulse laser (4.5 \times 1017 W/cm^2, 50 fsec) interacting with
H2O nano-wires (snow) deposited on a Sapphire substrate. In this setup, the
laser intensity is locally enhanced by the tip of the snow nano-wire, leading
to high spatial gradients. Accordingly, the plasma near the tip is subject to
enhanced ponderomotive potential, and confined charge separation is obtained.
Electrostatic fields of extremely high intensities are produced over the short
scale length, and protons are accelerated to MeV-level energies.Comment: submitted to PRL, under press embargo. 6 figure
Soft X-ray emission lines of Fe XV in solar flare observations and the Chandra spectrum of Capella
Recent calculations of atomic data for Fe XV have been used to generate
theoretical line ratios involving n = 3-4 transitions in the soft X-ray
spectral region (52-83 A), for a wide range of electron temperatures and
densities applicable to solar and stellar coronal plasmas. A comparison of
these with solar flare observations from a rocket-borne spectrograph (XSST)
reveals generally good agreement between theory and experiment. In particular,
the 82.76 A emission line in the XSST spectrum is identified, for the first
time to our knowledge in an astrophysical source. Most of the Fe XV transitions
which are blended have had the species responsible clearly identified, although
there remain a few instances where this has not been possible. The line ratio
calculations are also compared with a co-added spectrum of Capella obtained
with the Chandra satellite, which is probably the highest signal-to-noise
observation achieved for a stellar source in the 25-175 A soft X-ray region.
Good agreement is found between theory and experiment, indicating that the Fe
XV lines are reliably detected in Chandra spectra, and hence may be employed as
diagnostics to determine the temperature and/or density of the emitting plasma.
However the line blending in the Chandra data is such that individual emission
lines are difficult to measure accurately, and fluxes may only be reliably
determined via detailed profile fitting of the observations. The co-added
Capella spectrum is made available to hopefully encourage further exploration
of the soft X-ray region in astronomical sources.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figures, Astrophysical Journal, in pres
Attenuated Expression of DFFB is a Hallmark of Oligodendrogliomas with 1p-Allelic Loss
Allelic loss of chromosome 1p is frequently observed in oligodendroglioma. We screened 177 oligodendroglial tumors for 1p deletions and found 6 tumors with localized 1p36 deletions. Several apoptosis regulation genes have been mapped to this region, including Tumor Protein 73 (p73), DNA Fragmentation Factor subunits alpha (DFFA) and beta (DFFB), and Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily Members 9 and 25 (TNFRSF9, TNFRSF25). We compared expression levels of these 5 genes in pairs of 1p-loss and 1p-intact tumors using quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (QRTPCR) to test if 1p deletions had an effect on expression. Only the DFFB gene demonstrated decreased expression in all tumor pairs tested. Mutational analysis did not reveal DFFB mutations in 12 tested samples. However, it is possible that DFFB haploinsufficiency from 1p allelic loss is a contributing factor in oligodendroglioma development
When does an electron exit a tunneling barrier?
We probe the dynamics of tunnel ionization via high harmonic generation. We characterize the ionization dynamics in helium atoms, and apply our approach to resolve subtle differences in ionization from different orbitals of a CO 2 molecule
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A phase II study of temozolomide vs. procarbazine in patients with glioblastoma multiforme at first relapse.
A randomized, multicentre, open-label, phase II study compared temozolomide (TMZ), an oral second-generation alkylating agent, and procarbazine (PCB) in 225 patients with glioblastoma multiforme at first relapse. Primary objectives were to determine progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months and safety for TMZ and PCB in adult patients who failed conventional treatment. Secondary objectives were to assess overall survival and health-related quality of life (HRQL). TMZ was given orally at 200 mg/m(2)/day or 150 mg/m(2)/day (prior chemotherapy) for 5 days, repeated every 28 days. PCB was given orally at 150 mg/m(2)/day or 125 mg/m(2)/day (prior chemotherapy) for 28 days, repeated every 56 days. HRQL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30 [+3]) and the Brain Cancer Module 20 (BCM20). The 6-month PFS rate for patients who received TMZ was 21%, which met the protocol objective. The 6-month PFS rate for those who received PCB was 8% (P = 0.008, for the comparison). Overall PFS significantly improved with TMZ, with a median PFS of 12.4 weeks in the TMZ group and 8.32 weeks in the PCB group (P = 0.0063). The 6-month overall survival rate for TMZ patients was 60% vs. 44% for PCB patients (P = 0.019). Freedom from disease progression was associated with maintenance of HRQL, regardless of treatment received. TMZ had an acceptable safety profile; most adverse events were mild or moderate in severity
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