Progress in modeling heat capacity versus temperature morphology

After discussion of other models for representing heat capacities, the volumetric model used in resolution of lanthanide Schottky contributions over the cryogenic range and a more recent single-parameter formula to represent the lattice heat capacity, to resolve excess heat capacity contributions, to extrapolate lattice heat capacity beyond the measured temperature regions, and to predict thermodynamic properties of a compound in a series of known isostructural compounds is described. It is based on a new phonon distribution function improved over the Debye model by distinguishing between transverse and longitudinal modes, differences in the masses of the constituent atoms, the actual shape of the first Brillouin zone, the discreteness of the crystal structure, etc. Several other parameters included in the formula are uniquely determined from chemical, crystallographic, and elastic data. The single characteristic temperature ([theta]), is retained in the formula as a parameter to be determined by fitting the calorimetric data. The success of the model was checked by plotting the apparent characteristic temperature against temperature for experimental heat-capacity data of compounds with purely lattice heat capacities.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25941/1/0000003.pd

Thermal, magnetic and structural aspects of transitions in Mn0.63Cr0.37As. Thermodynamic properties from 10 to 350 K

Subambient crystallographic and magnetic structures and heat capacity on Mn0.63Cr0.37As are measured below 350 K. A complex first order magnetic (helimagnetic Ha- to Hc-type) and structural (MnP- to MnP-type) transition, accompanied by a discontinuous unit cell volume change, and a second order magnetic [heli-(Hc) to paramagnetic] transition are observed at 165 and 219 K, respectively. The thermodynamic functions are derived and the thermodynamic characteristics of the transitions are discussed. The enthalpy and entropy of the combined MnP,Ha- to MnP,Hc- and MnP,Hc [right harpoon over left] MnP,P-type transitions are assessed to be 124.8R K and 0.749R, respectively. Two different models for the deconvolution of the magnetic heat-capacity envelope into contributions from the MnP,Ha- to MnP,Hc- and the MnP,Hc [right harpoon over left] MnP,P-type transitions are considered.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26813/1/0000371.pd

Fungal microbiota from rain water and pathogenicity of Fusarium species isolated from atmospheric dust and rainfall dust

In order to determine the presence of Fusarium spp. in atmospheric dust and rainfall dust, samples were collected during September 2007, and July, August, and October 2008. The results reveal the prevalence of airborne Fusarium species coming from the atmosphere of the South East coast of Spain. Five different Fusarium species were isolated from the settling dust: Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, F. equiseti, F. dimerum, and F. proliferatum. Moreover, rainwater samples were obtained during significant rainfall events in January and February 2009. Using the dilution-plate method, 12 fungal genera were identified from these rainwater samples. Specific analyses of the rainwater revealed the presence of three species of Fusarium: F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum and F. equiseti. A total of 57 isolates of Fusarium spp. obtained from both rainwater and atmospheric rainfall dust sampling were inoculated onto melon (Cucumis melo L.) cv. Piñonet and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. San Pedro. These species were chosen because they are the main herbaceous crops in Almeria province. The results presented in this work indicate strongly that spores or propagules of Fusarium are able to cross the continental barrier carried by winds from the Sahara (Africa) to crop or coastal lands in Europe. Results show differences in the pathogenicity of the isolates tested. Both hosts showed root rot when inoculated with different species of Fusarium, although fresh weight measurements did not bring any information about the pathogenicity. The findings presented above are strong indications that long-distance transmission of Fusarium propagules may occur. Diseases caused by species of Fusarium are common in these areas. They were in the past, and are still today, a problem for greenhouses crops in Almería, and many species have been listed as pathogens on agricultural crops in this region. Saharan air masses dominate the Mediterranean regions. The evidence of long distance dispersal of Fusarium spp. by atmospheric dust and rainwater together with their proved pathogenicity must be taken into account in epidemiological studies

Closed-flavor pi + J/psi and pi + Upsilon Cross Sections at Low Energies from Dipion Decays

The scale of low energy c-cbar and b-bbar cross sections on light hadrons is of great importance to searches for the quark gluon plasma using the heavy-quarkonium suppression signature. Unfortunately, little is known about these near-threshold cross sections at present, and recent theoretical estimates span many orders of magnitude. Here we use experimental data on the four observed closed-flavor heavy quarkonium hadronic decays psi' -> pi pi J/psi, Upsilon' -> pi pi Upsilon, Upsilon'' -> pi pi Upsilon and Upsilon'' -> pi pi Upsilon', combined with simple models of the transition amplitudes, to estimate the pion scattering cross sections of c-cbar and b-bbar mesons near threshold. Specifically we consider the closed-flavor reactions pi J/psi -> pi psi', pi Upsilon -> pi Upsilon', pi Upsilon -> pi Upsilon'' and pi Upsilon' -> pi Upsilon'' and their time-reversed analogues. Our results may be useful in constraining theoretical models of the strong interactions of heavy quarkonia, and can be systematically improved through future detailed studies of dipion decays, notably psi' -> pi pi J/psi and Upsilon'' -> pi pi Upsilon.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Di-Pion Decays of Heavy Quarkonium in the Field Correlator Method

Mechanism of di-pion transitions $nS\to n'S\pi\pi(n=3,2; n'=2,1)$ in bottomonium and charmonium is studied with the use of the chiral string-breaking Lagrangian allowing for the emission of any number of $\pi(K,\eta),$ and not containing fitting parameters. The transition amplitude contains two terms, $M=a-b$, where first term (a) refers to subsequent one-pion emission: $\Upsilon(nS)\to\pi B\bar B^*\to\pi\Upsilon(n'S)\pi$ and second term (b) refers to two-pion emission: $\Upsilon(nS)\to\pi\pi B\bar B\to\pi\pi\Upsilon(n'S)$. The one-parameter formula for the di-pion mass distribution is derived, $\frac{dw}{dq}\sim$(phase space) $|\eta-x|^2$, where $x=\frac{q^2-4m^2_\pi}{q^2_{max}-4m^2_\pi},$ $q^2\equiv M^2_{\pi\pi}$. The parameter $\eta$ dependent on the process is calculated, using SHO wave functions and imposing PCAC restrictions (Adler zero) on amplitudes a,b. The resulting di-pion mass distributions are in agreement with experimental data.Comment: 62 pages,8 tables,7 figure

Observation of the Hadronic Transitions Chi_{b 1,2}(2P) -> omega Upsilon(1S)

The CLEO Collaboration has observed the first hadronic transition among bottomonium (b bbar) states other than the dipion transitions among vector states, Upsilon(nS) -> pi pi Upsilon(mS). In our study of Upsilon(3S) decays, we find a significant signal for Upsilon(3S) -> gamma omega Upsilon(1S) that is consistent with radiative decays Upsilon(3S) -> gamma chi_{b 1,2}(2P), followed by chi_{b 1,2} -> omega Upsilon(1S). The branching ratios we obtain are Br(chi_{b1} -> omega Upsilon(1S) = 1.63 (+0.35 -0.31) (+0.16 -0.15) % and Br(chi_{b2} -> omega Upsilon(1S) = 1.10 (+0.32 -0.28) (+0.11 - 0.10)%, in which the first error is statistical and the second is systematic.Comment: submitted to XXI Intern'l Symp on Lepton and Photon Interact'ns at High Energies, August 2003, Fermila

Effects of water potential on spore germination and viability of Fusarium species

Germination of macroconidia and/or microconidia of 24 strains of Fusarium solani, F. chlamydosporum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, F. verticillioides, F. sambucinum, F. oxysporum and F. proliferatum isolated from fluvial channels and sea beds of the south-eastern coast of Spain, and three control strains (F. oxysporum isolated from affected cultures) was studied in distilled water in response to a range of water potentials adjusted with NaCI. (0, -13.79, -41.79, -70.37, -99.56 and -144.54 bars). The vialibility (UFC/ml) of suspension was also tested in three time periods (0,24 and 48h). Conidia always germinated in distilled water. The pattern of conidial germination obseved of F. verticillioides, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. chlamydosporum and F. culmorum was similar. A great diminution of spore germination was found in -13.79 bars solutions. Spore germination percentage for F. solani isolates was maximal at 48 h. and -13.79 bars with 21.33% spore germination, 16% higher than germination in distilled water. F. equiseti shows the maximum germination percentage in -144.54 bars solution in 24 h time with 12.36% germination. These results did not agree with those obtained in the viability test where maximum germination was found in distilled water. The viability analysis showed the great capacity of F. verticilloides strains to form viable colonies, even in such extreme conditions as -144,54 bars after 24 h F. proliferatum colony formation was prevented in the range of -70.37 bars. These results show the clear affectation of water potential to conidia germination of Fusaria. The ability of certain species of Fusarium to develop a saprophytic life in the salt water of the Mediterraneam Sea could be certain. Successful germination, even under high salty media conditions, suggests taht Fusarium spp. could have a competitive advantage over other soil fungi in crops irrigated with saline water. In the specific case of F. solani, water potential of -13.79 bars affected germination positively. It could indicate that F. solani has an special physiological mechanism of survival in low water potential environments

Non-Agonistic Bivalent Antibodies That Promote c-MET Degradation and Inhibit Tumor Growth and Others Specific for Tumor Related c-MET

The c-MET receptor has a function in many human cancers and is a proven therapeutic target. Generating antagonistic or therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting c-MET has been difficult because bivalent, intact anti-Met antibodies frequently display agonistic activity, necessitating the use of monovalent antibody fragments for therapy. By using a novel strategy that included immunizing with cells expressing c-MET, we obtained a range of mAbs. These c-MET mAbs were tested for binding specificity and anti-tumor activity using a range of cell-based techniques and in silico modeling. The LMH 80 antibody bound an epitope, contained in the small cysteine-rich domain of c-MET (amino acids 519–561), that was preferentially exposed on the c-MET precursor. Since the c-MET precursor is only expressed on the surface of cancer cells and not normal cells, this antibody is potentially tumor specific. An interesting subset of our antibodies displayed profound activities on c-MET internalization and degradation. LMH 87, an antibody binding the loop connecting strands 3d and 4a of the 7-bladed β-propeller domain of c-MET, displayed no intrinsic agonistic activity but promoted receptor internalization and degradation. LMH 87 inhibited HGF/SF-induced migration of SK-OV-3 ovarian carcinoma cells, the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells and the growth of human U87MG glioma cells in a mouse xenograft model. These results indicate that c-MET antibodies targeting epitopes controlling receptor internalization and degradation provide new ways of controlling c-MET expression and activity and may enable the therapeutic targeting of c-MET by intact, bivalent antibodies

Hrs and SNX3 Functions in Sorting and Membrane Invagination within Multivesicular Bodies

After internalization, ubiquitinated signaling receptors are delivered to early endosomes. There, they are sorted and incorporated into the intralumenal invaginations of nascent multivesicular bodies, which function as transport intermediates to late endosomes. Receptor sorting is achieved by Hrs—an adaptor-like protein that binds membrane PtdIns3P via a FYVE motif—and then by ESCRT complexes, which presumably also mediate the invagination process. Eventually, intralumenal vesicles are delivered to lysosomes, leading to the notion that EGF receptor sorting into multivesicular bodies mediates lysosomal targeting. Here, we report that Hrs is essential for lysosomal targeting but dispensable for multivesicular body biogenesis and transport to late endosomes. By contrast, we find that the PtdIns3P-binding protein SNX3 is required for multivesicular body formation, but not for EGF receptor degradation. PtdIns3P thus controls the complementary functions of Hrs and SNX3 in sorting and multivesicular body biogenesis

Observation of charged kappa in J/psi -> K*(892)-+Kspi+-, K*(892)-+ -> Kspi-+ at BESII

Using 58 million J/psi decays obtained by BESII, a charged kappa particle is observed in the analysis of the Kspi+- system recoiling against K*(892)-+ selected in J/psi -> KsKspi+pi-. The mass and width values of the charged kappa are obtained to be (826+-49_{-34}^{+49}) MeV/c^2 and (449+-156_{-81}^{+144}) MeV/c^2 for the Breit-Wigner parameters, and the pole position is determined to be (764+-63_{-54}^{+71})-i(306+-149_{-85}^{+143}) MeV/c^2. They are in good agreement with those of the neutral kappa observed by the BES collaboration.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure