2,018 research outputs found
A 22-Week-Old Fetus with Nager Syndrome and Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia due to a Novel SF3B4 Mutation.
Nager syndrome, or acrofacial dysostosis type 1 (AFD1), is a rare multiple malformation syndrome characterized by hypoplasia of first and second branchial arches derivatives and appendicular anomalies with variable involvement of the radial/axial ray. In 2012, AFD1 has been associated with dominant mutations in SF3B4. We report a 22-week-old fetus with AFD1 associated with diaphragmatic hernia due to a previously unreported SF3B4 mutation (c.35-2A>G). Defective diaphragmatic development is a rare manifestation in AFD1 as it is described in only 2 previous cases, with molecular confirmation in 1 of them. Our molecular finding adds a novel pathogenic splicing variant to the SF3B4 mutational spectrum and contributes to defining its prenatal/fetal phenotype
High-order harmonic spectroscopy for molecular imaging of polyatomic molecules
High-order harmonic generation is a powerful and sensitive tool for probing
atomic and molecular structures, combining in the same measurement an
unprecedented attosecond temporal resolution with a high spatial resolution, of
the order of the angstrom. Imaging of the outermost molecular orbital by
high-order harmonic generation has been limited for a long time to very simple
molecules, like nitrogen. Recently we demonstrated a technique that overcame
several of the issues that have prevented the extension of molecular orbital
tomography to more complex species, showing that molecular imaging can be
applied to a triatomic molecule like carbon dioxide. Here we report on the
application of such technique to nitrous oxide (N2O) and acetylene (C2H2). This
result represents a first step towards the imaging of fragile compounds, a
category which includes most of the fundamental biological molecules
New white dwarfs in the Hyades --Results from kinematic and photometric studies
On the basis of the PPMXL catalogue (R\"oser, Demleitner & Schilbach, 2010)
we searched for white dwarfs that are also member candidates of the Hyades in a
region up to 40 pc from the cluster centre. We use the proper motions from
PPMXL in the convergent point method to determine probable kinematic members.
We cross-match the kinematic candidates with catalogues containing white dwarfs
and, finally, check the kinematic with the photometric distances for
consistency. We find the 10 classical white dwarfs in the Hyades and determine
their individual kinematic distances. Additionally, we identified 17 new
probable (former) Hyades white dwarfs, i.e. white dwarfs co-moving with the
bulk space motion of the Hyades cluster. At present, none of them can be
excluded from membership on the basis of the measured radial velocities. For
another 10 objects, the kinematic and the photometric distances are discordant
which rates them as probable non-members. Among the probable members, five
white dwarfs are in binary systems, three are known, two are new. There is good
indication for an empirical magnitude-distance (from centre) relation, such
that the dimmer white dwarfs are farther away from the cluster centre than the
brighter ones. Our sample is getting incomplete close behind the centre of the
cluster. Follow-up observations are encouraged to independently confirm the
predicted radial velocities and the distances of the candidates.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. Astronomy & Astrophysics (accepted
The potential for adoption of climate smart agricultural practices in Sub-Saharan livestock systems
Livestock systems play an important role in the livelihoods of many rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa while being responsible for an important share of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to evaluate the potential for adoption of climate smart agricultural practices in Sub-Saharan livestock systems, related to the improvement in feed, animal husbandry, and grassland management. These practices present productivity and mitigation benefits and in some cases may also contribute to enhance resilience. In this study, we used a data set of 1538 farm households across nine Sub-Saharan countries. A mixed logit model was used to assess the influence on adoption and to estimate the probability of adoption. Our results show that there seems to be stronger influence of physical and financial capitals on adoption than the other capitals. Different types of capitals influence the uptake of different agricultural practices. Yet the probability of adoption would change across countries. The results of this study could help to refine adoption estimates calculated through global or regional modelling approaches and to inform the design of policies to better target investments in order to foster adoption
Direct observation of the ultrafast electron transfer process in a polymer/fullerene blend
Photoinduced electron transfer in organic molecules is an extensively investigated topic both because of fundamental interest in the photophysics and for applications to artificial photosynthesis. Highly efficient ultrafast electron transfer from photoexcited conjugated polymers to C60 has been reported, the back transfer is heavily hindered, thus providing an intrinsic stabilization mechanism of the photogenerated charges. Although an upper limit for the forward electron transfer time of 1 ps has been reported, its detailed time resolution is still missing and is highly needed to shed light on the photophysics of the charge transfer mechanism. We perform ultrafast experiments on conjugated polymer/C60 blends with sub-10-fs time resolution. We are able to time resolve for the first time the charge transfer process, obtaining a forward electron transfer time constant τct≈45 fs
Direct observation of the ultrafast electron transfer process in a polymer/fullerene blend
Photoinduced electron transfer in organic molecules is a topic of fundamental interest in photophysics and for applications to artificial photosynthesis. The detailed time resolution of this process is needed to shed light on the charge transfer mechanism. We perform ultrafast experiments on conjugated polymer/C60 blends with sub-10-fs time resolution. We are able to time resolve for the first time the charge transfer process, obtaining a time constant ≈45 fs
- …