Pressure-induced transient structural change of liquid germanium induced by high-energy picosecond laser pulses

The temporal evolution of the reflectivity of germanium at 514 nm upon irradiation with single high-energy picosecond laser pulses has been measured using a streak camera. It is found that, for a well-defined high fluence range, the reflectivity of the laser-induced molten phase attains a value of 0.85, considerably above the value reported for liquid Ge in thermal equilibrium (0.75). This behavior is consistent with a strong densification of the liquid phase remaining after the explosive vaporization of a thin surface layer. Within the specified fluence interval, this anomalously high reflectivity state is independent of the fluence and lasts tens of nanoseconds. Both characteristics point to the presence of a pressure-induced transient structural change in liquid germanium. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewe

Transport Phenomena and Structuring in Shear Flow of Suspensions near Solid Walls

In this paper we apply the lattice-Boltzmann method and an extension to particle suspensions as introduced by Ladd et al. to study transport phenomena and structuring effects of particles suspended in a fluid near sheared solid walls. We find that a particle free region arises near walls, which has a width depending on the shear rate and the particle concentration. The wall causes the formation of parallel particle layers at low concentrations, where the number of particles per layer decreases with increasing distance to the wall.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figure

Dead layer on silicon p-i-n diode charged-particle detectors

Semiconductor detectors in general have a dead layer at their surfaces that is either a result of natural or induced passivation, or is formed during the process of making a contact. Charged particles passing through this region produce ionization that is incompletely collected and recorded, which leads to departures from the ideal in both energy deposition and resolution. The silicon \textit{p-i-n} diode used in the KATRIN neutrino-mass experiment has such a dead layer. We have constructed a detailed Monte Carlo model for the passage of electrons from vacuum into a silicon detector, and compared the measured energy spectra to the predicted ones for a range of energies from 12 to 20 keV. The comparison provides experimental evidence that a substantial fraction of the ionization produced in the "dead" layer evidently escapes by diffusion, with 46% being collected in the depletion zone and the balance being neutralized at the contact or by bulk recombination. The most elementary model of a thinner dead layer from which no charge is collected is strongly disfavored.Comment: Manuscript submitted to NIM

Differentially expressed microRNAs in maternal plasma for the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome (trisomy 21).

OBJECTIVES: Most developmental processes are under the control of small regulatory RNAs called microRNAs (miRNAs). We hypothesize that different fetal developmental processes might be reflected by extracellular miRNAs in maternal plasma and may be utilized as biomarkers for the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal aneuploidies. In this proof-of-concept study, we report on the identification of extracellular miRNAs in maternal plasma of Down syndrome (DS) pregnancies. METHODS: Using high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR), 1043 miRNAs were investigated in maternal plasma via comparison of seven DS pregnancies with age and fetal sex matched controls. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety-five miRNAs were identified. Thirty-six significantly differentially expressed mature miRNAs were identified as potential biomarkers. Hierarchical cluster analysis of these miRNAs resulted in the clear discrimination of DS from euploid pregnancies. Gene targets of the differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched in signaling pathways such as mucin type-O-glycans, ECM-receptor interactions, TGF-beta, and endocytosis, which have been previously associated with DS. CONCLUSIONS: miRNAs are promising and stable biomarkers for a broad range of diseases and may allow a reliable, cost-efficient diagnostic tool for the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of DS

The KATRIN Pre-Spectrometer at reduced Filter Energy

The KArlsruhe TRItium Neutrino experiment, KATRIN, will determine the mass of the electron neutrino with a sensitivity of 0.2 eV (90% C.L.) via a measurement of the beta-spectrum of gaseous tritium near its endpoint of E_0 =18.57 keV. An ultra-low background of about b = 10 mHz is among the requirements to reach this sensitivity. In the KATRIN main beam-line two spectrometers of MAC-E filter type are used in a tandem configuration. This setup, however, produces a Penning trap which could lead to increased background. We have performed test measurements showing that the filter energy of the pre-spectrometer can be reduced by several keV in order to diminish this trap. These measurements were analyzed with the help of a complex computer simulation, modeling multiple electron reflections both from the detector and the photoelectric electron source used in our test setup.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figure

Fuzzy species limits in Mediterranean gorgonians (Cnidaria, Octocorallia): inferences on speciation processes

The study of the interplay between speciation and hybridization is of primary importance in evolutionary biology. Octocorals are ecologically important species whose shallow phylogenetic relationships often remain to be studied. In the Mediterranean Sea, three congeneric octocorals can be observed in sympatry: Eunicella verrucosa, Eunicella cavolini and Eunicella singularis. They display morphological differences and E.singularis hosts photosynthetic Symbiodinium, contrary to the two other species. Two nuclear sequence markers were used to study speciation and gene flow between these species, through network analysis and Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC). Shared sequences indicated the possibility of hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting. According to ABC, a scenario of gene flow through secondary contact was the best model to explain these results. At the intraspecific level, neither geographical nor ecological isolation corresponded to distinct genetic lineages in E.cavolini. These results are discussed in the light of the potential role of ecology and genetic incompatibilities in the persistence of species limits.French National Research Agency (ANR) program Adacni (ANR) [ANR-12-ADAP-0016]CNRSHubert Curien 'Tassili' program [12MDU853]CCMAR Strategic Plan from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia-FCT [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2011,FEDERinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Etude de la pollution des eaux des oueds Seybouse et Mellah (Région de l'Est Algérien)

L'objet de cette étude est d'expérimenter un protocole de travail base sur des prélèvements de surface et de puits de particuliers en vue d'établir la qualité des eaux et d'assoir des bases de données relatives à la pollution hydrique en Algérie. Les résultats des analyses chimiques montrent pour les deux oueds un facies chimique dominant et caractérise par le chlorure sulfate sodique, en relation avec des rejets industriels, domestiques et le lessivage des formations géologiques. L'établissement du diagramme ammonium-nitrate montre que le rapport NH4+/NO3- diminue d'amont en aval et s'explique par la transformation de l'ammonium en azote au cours de la période d'observation s'étalant de janvier à juin 2007. Des teneurs excessives en PO43- dans l'oued Mellah ont été observées comparativement à l'oued Seybouse, ce qui conduit à une eutrophisation. Les variations de la DB05 et de la DCO évoluent suivant des valeurs acceptables dans les deux oueds. Les teneurs excessives en chlorure (>600 mg/l) dans l'oued Mellah s'expliquent par les rejets domestiques, industriels et au lessivage des formations sédimentaires évaporitiques. La simulation montre que le NH3 et l'oxygène sont en sous-saturation dans les eaux surtout au niveau de l'oued Mellah témoignant ainsi d’une eutrophisation avancéeMots clés: Oued Seybouse - Oued Mellah - Qualité des eaux - Pollution, Eau de surface - Puits – simulation The purpose of this study is to test a working protocol based on sampling from surface and belonging to individual wells to establish water quality and to set a database on the extent of water pollution in Algeria. Chemical analysis results indicate that the dominant chemical compounds are characterized by sodium and chloride-sulfate as a result of domestic and industrial discharges, and geological formations leaching. The construction of ammonium-nitrate diagram shows that the ratio NH4+/NO3-decreases from upstream to downstream and is explained by the conversion of ammonium into nitrogen during the observation period ranging from January to June 2007. Excessive levels of PO43- in the Mellah river were observed compared to the Seybouse, which leads to eutrophication. Changes in DBO5 and DCO evolve following acceptable levels in both rivers. Excessive chloride concentrations (>600 mg/l) in the Mellah river may be explained by domestic waste, industrial and evaporitic formations leaching. The simulation shows that NH3 and oxygen are under-saturation in the water especially in the Mellah river reflecting an advanced eutrophication.Keywords: Seybouse river- Mellah river- Water quality- Pollution- Surface water- Water wells- Simulation.