The Boson peak in supercooled water

We perform extensive molecular dynamics simulations of the TIP4P/2005 model of water to investigate the origin of the Boson peak reported in experiments on supercooled water in nanoconfined pores, and in hydration water around proteins. We find that the onset of the Boson peak in supercooled bulk water coincides with the crossover to a predominantly low-density-like liquid below the Widom line $T_W$. The frequency and onset temperature of the Boson peak in our simulations of bulk water agree well with the results from experiments on nanoconfined water. Our results suggest that the Boson peak in water is not an exclusive effect of confinement. We further find that, similar to other glass-forming liquids, the vibrational modes corresponding to the Boson peak are spatially extended and are related to transverse phonons found in the parent crystal, here ice Ih.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure

Characterization of Si/Si_(1-y)C_y superlattices grown by surfactant assisted molecular beam epitaxy

Si/Si_(0.97)C_(0.03) superlattices grown on Si(001) substrates by Sb surfactant assisted molecular beam epitaxy are characterized by in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high resolution x‐ray diffraction. The RHEED shows that, in the absence of Sb, the growth front roughens during Si_(0.97)C_(0.03) growth and smooths during subsequent Si growth. In contrast, when Sb is present, the growth front remains smooth throughout the growth. This observation is confirmed by cross‐sectional TEM, which reveals that for samples grown without the use of Sb, the Si/Si_(0.97)C_(0.03) interfaces (Si_(0.97)C_(0.03) on Si) are much more abrupt than the Si_(0.97)C_(0.03)/Si interfaces. In the case of Sb assisted growth, there is no observable difference in abruptness between the two types of interfaces. Atomic force microscopy micrographs of the Si_(0.97)C_(0.03) surface reveal features that could be the source of the roughness observed by RHEED and TEM

Sb-surfactant-mediated growth of Si/Si1–yCy superlattices by molecular-beam epitaxy

Si/Si0.97C0.03 superlattices were grown on Si(001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to study the use of Sb as a surfactant during Si1–yCy growth. In situ reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) shows that while carbon easily disrupts the two-dimensional growth of homoepitaxial Si, such disruption is suppressed for layers grown on Sb-terminated Si(001) surfaces. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that for samples grown without the use of Sb, the Si/Si0.97C0.03 interfaces (Si0.97C0.03 on Si) were much more abrupt than Si0.97C0.03/Si interfaces. In the case of Sb-mediated growth, differences in abruptness between the two types of interfaces were not readily observable

First ice core records of NO3− stable isotopes from Lomonosovfonna, Svalbard

Samples from two ice cores drilled at Lomonosovfonna, Svalbard, covering the period 1957–2009, and 1650–1995, respectively, were analyzed for NO3− concentrations, and NO3− stable isotopes (δ15N and δ18O). Post-1950 δ15N has an average of (−6.9 ± 1.9) ‰, which is lower than the isotopic signal known for Summit, Greenland, but agrees with values observed in recent Svalbard snow and aerosol. Pre-1900 δ15N has an average of (4.2 ± 1.6) ‰ suggesting that natural sources, enriched in the 15 N-isotope, dominated before industrialization. The post-1950 δ18O average of (75.1 ± 4.1) ‰ agrees with data from low and polar latitudes, suggesting similar atmospheric NOy (NOy = NO + NO2 + HNO3) processing pathways. The combination of anthropogenic source δ15N and transport isotope effect was estimated as −29.1 ‰ for the last 60 years. This value is below the usual range of NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) anthropogenic sources which is likely the result of a transport isotope effect of –32 ‰. We suggest that the δ15N recorded at Lomonosovfonna is influenced mainly by fossil fuel combustion, soil emissions and forest fires; the first and second being responsible for the marked decrease in δ15N observed in the post-1950s record with soil emissions being associated to the decreasing trend in δ15N observed up to present time, and the third being responsible for the sharp increase of δ15N around 2000

The information system for LHC parameters and layouts

The construction of the Large Hadron Collider, LHC, at CERN implies both the handling of a huge amount of information and the control of the coherence of this information. The LHC machine parameters have to be maintained coherent as the design evolves from the conceptual stage to the actual, installed, machine and have to be made available to all concerned. Design data is provided in many different formats from the machine builders, drawings, technical documents, meeting notes, lattice simulation input files, etc. The World Wide Web is being used to make the information accessible both at CERN and at the external collaborating laboratories. In this paper we describe the implementation of an Oracle database as the central common repository for machine parameters and of information for the automatic generation of CAD layout drawings and WWW pages. This system is integrated in a larger context, the EDMS system for the LHC project, which encompasses both the accelerator and the experiments

The link between neuroinflammation and the neurovascular unit in synucleinopathies.

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is composed of vascular cells, glial cells, and neurons. As a fundamental functional module in the central nervous system, the NVU maintains homeostasis in the microenvironment and the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Disruption of the NVU and interactions among its components are involved in the pathophysiology of synucleinopathies, which are characterized by the pathological accumulation of α-synuclein. Neuroinflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and dementia with Lewy bodies. This review aims to summarize the neuroinflammatory response of glial cells and vascular cells in the NVU. We also review neuroinflammation in the context of the cross-talk between glial cells and vascular cells, between glial cells and pericytes, and between microglia and astroglia. Last, we discuss how α-synuclein affects neuroinflammation and how neuroinflammation influences the aggregation and spread of α-synuclein and analyze different properties of α-synuclein in synucleinopathies

Sinking and floating rates of natural phytoplankton assemblages in Lake Erken

Sinking rates of the <120 mu m size phytoplankton fraction of water from Lake Erken were determined during the summer 1992 by following the increase of chlorophyll a in the 10 ml-bottom layer in replicate 100 ml settling cylinders. Changes in chlorophyll a concentrations as a function of incubation time allowed two fractions to be separated. Fast sinking rates varied between values of 1.9 m/day when pennate and centric diatoms and coccal cyanobacteria were dominant tin cell concentration) and values of 0.5 m/day when cryptophytes and chrysophytes dominated the <120 mu m size fraction. Slow sinking rates decreased from 0.04 m/day at the beginning of July to 0.02 m/day in late July. Photosynthesis-Irradiance parameters (P-max(B) light saturated photosynthesis and #alpha#(B), light limited photosynthesis) were lower in the fast sinking fraction (P-max(B) = 1.3 - 2.4 mu gC/mu gChl/h and #alpha#(B) = 0.01 - 0.04 mu gC/mu gChl/h/(mu E/m(2)/s) than in the slow or non-sinking one (P-max(B) = 3.9 - 6.4 mu gC/mu gChl/h and #alpha#(B) = 0.03 - 0.08 mu gC/mu gChl/h/(mu E/m(2)/s). P-max(B) and #alpha#B of the planktonic Gloeotrichia echinulata, a colonial broom-forming cyanobacterium, were similar to those found in the fast sinking fraction. Mean floating rates of G. echinulata were around 43 m/d from 15 to 27 July and increased by a factor of two afterwards. G. echinulata colonies migrating upwards from sediments and captured in inverted traps showed a mean floating rate of 104 m/d