818 research outputs found
Target structure independent elastic scattering at low momentum transfers
Analyzing powers and cross sections for the elastic scattering of polarized
7Li by targets of 6Li, 7Li and 12C are shown to depend only on the properties
of the projectile for momentum transfers of less than 1.0 fm-1. The result of a
detailed analysis of the experimental data within the framework of the coupled
channels model with ground state reorientation and transitions to the excited
states of the projectile and targets included in the coupling schemes are
presented. This work suggests that nuclear properties of weakly-bound nuclei
can be tested by elastic scattering experiments, independent of the target
used, if data are acquired for momentum transfers less than ~1.0 fm-1.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted in Phys. Lett.
Investigating potential inhibitory effect of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat's Claw) against the main protease 3CL pro of SARS-CoV-2 by molecular modeling
COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Presently, there is no effective treatment for COVID-19. As part of the worldwide efforts to find efficient therapies and preventions, it has been reported the crystalline structure of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease M pro (also called 3CL pro) bound to a synthetic inhibitor, which represents a major druggable target. The druggability of M pro could be used for discovering drugs to treat COVID-19. A multilevel computational study was carried out to evaluate the potential antiviral properties of the components of the medicinal herb Uncaria tomentosa (Cat's claw), focusing on the inhibition of M pro. The in silico approach starts with protein-ligand docking of 26 Cat's claw key components, followed by ligand pathway calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA calculation of the free energy of binding for the best docked candidates. The structural bioinformatics approaches led to identification of three bioactive compounds of Uncaria tomentosa (speciophylline, cadambine, and proanthocyanidin B2) with potential therapeutic effects by strong interaction with 3CL pro. Additionally, in silico drug-likeness indices for these components were calculated and showed good predicted therapeutic profiles of these phytochemicals. Our findings suggest the potential effectiveness of Cat's claw as complementary and/or alternative medicine for COVID-19 treatment
Adaptive optics in high-contrast imaging
The development of adaptive optics (AO) played a major role in modern
astronomy over the last three decades. By compensating for the atmospheric
turbulence, these systems enable to reach the diffraction limit on large
telescopes. In this review, we will focus on high contrast applications of
adaptive optics, namely, imaging the close vicinity of bright stellar objects
and revealing regions otherwise hidden within the turbulent halo of the
atmosphere to look for objects with a contrast ratio lower than 10^-4 with
respect to the central star. Such high-contrast AO-corrected observations have
led to fundamental results in our current understanding of planetary formation
and evolution as well as stellar evolution. AO systems equipped three
generations of instruments, from the first pioneering experiments in the
nineties, to the first wave of instruments on 8m-class telescopes in the years
2000, and finally to the extreme AO systems that have recently started
operations. Along with high-contrast techniques, AO enables to reveal the
circumstellar environment: massive protoplanetary disks featuring spiral arms,
gaps or other asymmetries hinting at on-going planet formation, young giant
planets shining in thermal emission, or tenuous debris disks and micron-sized
dust leftover from collisions in massive asteroid-belt analogs. After
introducing the science case and technical requirements, we will review the
architecture of standard and extreme AO systems, before presenting a few
selected science highlights obtained with recent AO instruments.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figure
Deformation of the N=Z nucleus 76Sr using beta-decay studies
A novel method of deducing the deformation of the N=Z nucleus 76Sr is
presented. It is based on the comparison of the experimental Gamow-Teller
strength distribution B(GT) from its beta decay with the results of QRPA
calculations. This method confirms previous indications of the strong prolate
deformation of this nucleus in a totally independent way. The measurement has
been carried out with a large Total Absorption gamma Spectrometer, "Lucrecia",
newly installed at CERN-ISOLDE.Comment: Accepted in Phys. Rev. Letter
Determination of Matter Surface Distribution of Neutron-rich Nuclei
We demonstrate that the matter density distribution in the surface region is
determined well by the use of the relatively low-intensity beams that become
available at the upcoming radioactive beam facilities. Following the method
used in the analyses of electron scattering, we examine how well the density
distribution is determined in a model-independent way by generating pseudo data
and by carefully applying statistical and systematic error analyses. We also
study how the determination becomes deteriorated in the central region of the
density, as the quality of data decreases. Determination of the density
distributions of neutron-rich nuclei is performed by fixing parameters in the
basis functions to the neighboring stable nuclei. The procedure allows that the
knowledge of the density distributions of stable nuclei assists to strengthen
the determination of their unstable isotopes.Comment: 41 pages, latex, 27 figure
Virtual coupling potential for elastic scattering of Be on proton and carbon targets
International audienceThe 10;11Be(p,p) and (12C, 12C) reactions were analyzed to determine the in uence of the weak binding energies of exotic nuclei on their interaction potential. The elastic cross sections were measured at GANIL in inverse kinematics using radioactive 10;11Be beams produced at energies of 39:1 A and 38:4A MeV. The elastic proton scattering data were analyzed within the framework of the microscopic Jeukenne-Lejeune-Mahaux (JLM) nucleon-nucleus potential. The angular distributions are found to be best reproduced by reducing the real part of the microscopic optical potential, as a consequence of the coupling to the continuum. These effects modify deeply the elastic potential. Including the Virtual Coupling Potential (VCP), we show the ability of the general optical potentials to reproduce the data for scattering of unstable nuclei, using realistic densities. Finally, the concepts needed to develop a more general and microscopic approach of the VCP are discussed
Caribbean Corals in Crisis: Record Thermal Stress, Bleaching, and Mortality in 2005
BACKGROUND The rising temperature of the world's oceans has become a major threat to coral reefs globally as the severity and frequency of mass coral bleaching and mortality events increase. In 2005, high ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean resulted in the most severe bleaching event ever recorded in the basin. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Satellite-based tools provided warnings for coral reef managers and scientists, guiding both the timing and location of researchers' field observations as anomalously warm conditions developed and spread across the greater Caribbean region from June to October 2005. Field surveys of bleaching and mortality exceeded prior efforts in detail and extent, and provided a new standard for documenting the effects of bleaching and for testing nowcast and forecast products. Collaborators from 22 countries undertook the most comprehensive documentation of basin-scale bleaching to date and found that over 80% of corals bleached and over 40% died at many sites. The most severe bleaching coincided with waters nearest a western Atlantic warm pool that was centered off the northern end of the Lesser Antilles. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Thermal stress during the 2005 event exceeded any observed from the Caribbean in the prior 20 years, and regionally-averaged temperatures were the warmest in over 150 years. Comparison of satellite data against field surveys demonstrated a significant predictive relationship between accumulated heat stress (measured using NOAA Coral Reef Watch's Degree Heating Weeks) and bleaching intensity. This severe, widespread bleaching and mortality will undoubtedly have long-term consequences for reef ecosystems and suggests a troubled future for tropical marine ecosystems under a warming climate.This work was partially supported by salaries from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program authors. NOAA provided funding to Caribbean ReefCheck investigators to undertake surveys of bleaching and mortality. Otherwise, no funding from outside authors' institutions was necessary for the undertaking of this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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