2,175 research outputs found
Decline in extinction rates and scale invariance in the fossil record
We show that the decline in the extinction rate during the Phanerozoic can be
accurately parameterized by a logarithmic fit to the cumulative total
extinction. This implies that extinction intensity is falling off approximately
as the reciprocal of time. We demonstrate that this observation alone is
sufficient to explain the existence of the proposed power-law forms in the
distribution of the sizes of extinction events and in the power spectrum of
Phanerozoic extinction, results which previously have been explained by
appealing to self-organized critical theories of evolutionary dynamics.Comment: 11 pages including 3 postscript figures, typeset in LaTeX 2e using
the Elsevier macro package elsart.cl
Signature of the Overhauser field on the coherent spin dynamics of donor-bound electron in a single CdTe quantum well
We have studied the coherent spin dynamics in an oblique magnetic field of
electrons localized on donors and placed in the middle of a single CdTe quantum
well, by using a time-resolved optical technique: the photo-induced Faraday
rotation. We showed that this dynamics is affected by a weak Overhauser field
created via the hyperfine interaction of optically spin-polarized donor-bound
electrons with the surrounding nuclear isotopes carrying non-zero spins. We
have measured this nuclear field, which is on the order of a few mT and can
reach a maximum experimental value of 9.4 mT. This value represents 13 % of the
maximal nuclear polarization, and corresponds also to 13 % of maximal
electronic polarization.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Connexin43 regulates joint location in zebrafish fins
AbstractJoints are essential for skeletal form and function, yet their development remains poorly understood. In zebrafish fins, joints form between the bony fin ray segments providing essentially unlimited opportunities to evaluate joint morphogenesis. Mutations in cx43 cause the short segment phenotype of short fin (sofb123) mutants, suggesting that direct cell–cell communication may regulate joint location. Interestingly, increased cx43 expression in the another long fin (alfdty86) mutant appears to cause joint failure typical of that mutant. Indeed, knockdown of cx43 in alfdty86 mutant fins rescues joint formation. Together, these data reveal a correlation between the level of Cx43 expression in the fin ray mesenchyme and the location of joints. Cx43 was also observed laterally in cells associated with developing joints. Confocal microscopy revealed that the Cx43 protein initially surrounds the membranes of ZNS5-positive joint cells, but at later stages becomes polarized toward the underlying Cx43-positive mesenchymal cells. One possibility is that communication between the Cx43-positive mesenchyme and the overlying ZNS5-positive cells regulates joint location, and upregulation of Cx43 in joint-forming cells contributes to joint morphogenesis
Hole spin dephasing time associated to hyperfine interaction in quantum dots
The spin interaction of a hole confined in a quantum dot with the surrounding
nuclei is described in terms of an effective magnetic field. We show that, in
contrast to the Fermi contact hyperfine interaction for conduction electrons,
the dipole-dipole hyperfine interaction is anisotropic for a hole, for both
pure or mixed hole states. We evaluate the coupling constants of the
hole-nuclear interaction and demonstrate that they are only one order of
magnitude smaller than the coupling constants of the electron-nuclear
interaction. We also study, theoretically, the hole spin dephasing of an
ensemble of quantum dots via the hyperfine interaction in the framework of
frozen fluctuations of the nuclear field, in absence or in presence of an
applied magnetic field. We also discuss experiments which could evidence the
dipole-dipole hyperfine interaction and give information on hole mixing.Comment: 35 pages, 7 figures and 2 table
Geochemistry, Petrology, and Palynology of the Princess No. 3 Coal, Greenup County, Kentucky
The high volatile C bituminous-rank, Bolsovian-age Princess No. 3 coal, a correlative of the heavily-mined Hazard No. 7 coal and the Peach Orchard and Coalburg Lower Split coals, was investigated three sites at a mine in Greenup County, Kentucky. The coal exhibits a “dulling upwards” trend, with decreasing vitrinite and a greater tendency towards dull clarain and bone lithotypes towards the top of the coal. The relatively vitrinite-rich basal lithotype is marked by a dominance of lycopod tree spores. The palynology transitions upwards to a middle parting co-dominated by tree fern and small lycopod spores and an upper bench dominated by tree ferns with contributions from small ferns, cordaites, and calamites. The lithotypes generally have a moderate- to high-S content with a variable ash yield. Sulfur, Fe2O3, and certain siderophile elements are highest near the top of the coal. As observed in other coals, uranium and Ge are enriched at the top and bottom margins of the coal. The rare earth chemistry at the top of the coal has a significantly lighter distribution (higher LREE/HREE) than at the base of the coal
Spatially-resolved potential measurement with ion crystals
We present a method to measure potentials over an extended region using
one-dimensional ion crystals in a radio frequency (RF) ion trap. The
equilibrium spacings of the ions within the crystal allow the determination of
the external forces acting at each point. From this the overall potential, and
also potentials due to specific trap features, are calculated. The method can
be used to probe potentials near proximal objects in real time, and can be
generalized to higher dimensions.Comment: 7 pages (double spaced), 3 figure
Morphologic Spectrum of Renal Cell Carcinoma, Unclassified: An Analysis of 136 Cases
Aims
Renal cell carcinoma, unclassified (RCCU) is a category that includes a morphologically and biologically heterogeneous group of tumors that are unable to be diagnosed as other well-defined entities. We aim to describe the morphologic findings of tumors within this category and to determine the most frequent morphologic features leading to classification difficulty.
Methods and results
One hundred and thirty-six cases of RCCU were examined. Patients ranged in age from 23 to 87 years. Seventy-seven patients were men and 59 were women. International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade was most commonly 3 (n=66), followed by 2 (n=42) and 4 (n=28). Tumor size ranged from 0.6 cm to 24.9 cm. The AJCC pathologic T categories included pT1a (n=50), pT1b (n=14), pT2a (n=7), pT2b (n=4), pT3a (n=50), and pT4 (n=9). Forty-four cases included lymph node(s), of which 41% (n=18) had metastases. Tumors were assessed for a variety of histologic features and assigned to the following morphologic groups: predominantly oncocytoma/chromophobe RCC-like; clear cell RCC-like; papillary RCC-like; collecting duct-like; and pure sarcomatoid differentiation. The majority of the oncocytoma/chromophobe and clear cell RCC-like phenotypes were low stage (pT1 or pT2). The papillary RCC-like, collecting duct-like, and pure sarcomatoid phenotypes were mostly high stage (pT3 or pT4).
Conclusions
RCCU is a term that encompasses tumors with a variety of morphologic features and a wide biologic spectrum. The most common source of diagnostic difficulty was tumors composed of predominantly eosinophilic cells
- …