Pulsed extraction of ionization from helium buffer gas

The migration of intense ionization created in helium buffer gas under the influence of applied electric fields is considered. First the chemical evolution of the ionization created by fast heavy-ion beams is described. Straight forward estimates of the lifetimes for charge exchange indicate a clear suppression of charge exchange during ion migration in low pressure helium. Then self-consistent calculations of the migration of the ions in the electric field of a gas-filled cell at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) using a Particle-In-Cell computer code are presented. The results of the calculations are compared to measurements of the extracted ion current caused by beam pulses injected into the NSCL gas cell.Comment: Accepted for pubilication in Nucl. Instrum. Meth. B, 14 pages, 8 figure

Intensity limitations of a gas cell for stopping, storing and guiding of radioactive ions

The possibility to use a gas cell filled by noble gas (He or Ar) for thermalizing, storing and transporting radioactive ions is explored by studying experimentally ion - electron recombination of stable Ni, resonantly ionized by laser light. Combined with a literature study on ionization chambers, especially developed for high-intensity applications, conclusions are drawn on the maximum intensity of the incoming ion beam. A practical limit is encountered when the space-charge induced voltage fully counteract the applied voltage on the electrodes collecting the electrons

Shape Isomerism at N = 40: Discovery of a Proton Intruder in 67Co

The nuclear structure of 67Co has been investigated through 67Fe beta-decay. The 67Fe isotopes were produced at the LISOL facility in proton-induced fission of 238U and selected using resonant laser ionization combined with mass separation. The application of a new correlation technique unambiguously revealed a 496(33) ms isomeric state in 67Co at an unexpected low energy of 492 keV. A 67Co level scheme has been deduced. Proposed spin and parities suggest a spherical (7/2-) 67Co ground state and a deformed first excited (1/2-) state at 492 keV, interpreted as a proton 1p-2h prolate intruder state.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, preprint submitted to Physical Review Letter

Dermatomyositis and Breast Calcinosis

The authors report a rare case of dermatomyositis diagnosed at the Mastology Sector of the Division of Gynecology of the Federal University of São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina, which caused breast deformity due to formation of bilateral dystrophic calcifications.Os autores relatam caso raro de dermatomiosite diagnosticado no Setor de Mastologia da Disciplina de Ginecologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Escola Paulista de Medicina, causando deformidade mamária devido à formação de calcificações distróficas bilateralmente.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Setor de MastologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Setor de MastologiaSciEL

Dual Chamber Laser Ion Source at Lisol

A new type of the gas cell for the resonance ionization laser ion source at the Leuven Isotope Separator On Line (LISOL) has been developed and tested at off-line and on-line conditions. Two-step selective laser ionization is applied to produce purified beams of radioactive isotopes. The selectivity of the ion source has been increased by more than one order of magnitude by separation of the stopping and laser ionization regions. This allows to use electrical fields for further ion purification.Comment: 14 figure

The Laser Ion Source Trap (LIST) coupled to a gas cell catcher

The proof of principle of the Laser Ion Source Trap (LIST) coupled to a gas cell catcher system has been demonstrated at the Leuven Isotope Separator On-Line (LISOL). The experiments were carried out by using the modified gas cell-based laser ion source and the SextuPole Ion Guide (SPIG). Element selective resonance laser ionization of neutral atoms was taking place inside the cold jet expanding out of the gas cell catcher. The laser path was oriented in longitudinal as well as transverse geometries with respect to the atoms flow. The enhancement of beam purity and the feasibility for in-source laser spectroscopy were investigated in off-line and on-line conditions.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figure

Cathepsin K induces platelet dysfunction and affects cell signaling in breast cancer - molecularly distinct behavior of cathepsin K in breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer comprises clinically and molecularly distinct tumor subgroups that differ in cell histology and biology and show divergent clinical phenotypes that impede phase III trials, such as those utilizing cathepsin K inhibitors. Here we correlate the epithelial-mesenchymal-like transition breast cancer cells and cathepsin K secretion with activation and aggregation of platelets. Cathepsin K is up-regulated in cancer cells that proteolyze extracellular matrix and contributes to invasiveness. Although proteolytically activated receptors (PARs) are activated by proteases, the direct interaction of cysteine cathepsins with PARs is poorly understood. In human platelets, PAR-1 and -4 are highly expressed, but PAR-3 shows low expression and unclear functions. Methods: Platelet aggregation was monitored by measuring changes in turbidity. Platelets were immunoblotted with anti-phospho and total p38, Src-Tyr-416, FAK-Tyr-397, and TGF beta monoclonal antibody. Activation was measured in a flow cytometer and calcium mobilization in a confocal microscope. Mammary epithelial cells were prepared from the primary breast cancer samples of 15 women with Luminal-B subtype to produce primary cells. Results: We demonstrate that platelets are aggregated by cathepsin K in a dose-dependent manner, but not by other cysteine cathepsins. PARs-3 and -4 were confirmed as the cathepsin K target by immunodetection and specific antagonists using a fibroblast cell line derived from PARs deficient mice. Moreover, through co-culture experiments, we show that platelets activated by cathepsin K mediated the up-regulation of SHH, PTHrP, OPN, and TGF beta in epithelial-mesenchymal-like cells from patients with Luminal B breast cancer. Conclusions: Cathepsin K induces platelet dysfunction and affects signaling in breast cancer cells.Associacao Beneficente de Coleta de Sangue (Colsan)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Gynecol, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilCOLSAN, Charitable Assoc Blood Collect, BR-04080006 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilAntonio Prudente Fdn, AC Camargo Canc Ctr, AC Camargo Hosp Biobank, Dept Pathol, BR-01509010 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Cellular Gynecol Lab, Dept Gynecol, Rua Napoleao Barros 608, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Gynecol, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Cellular Gynecol Lab, Dept Gynecol, Rua Napoleao Barros 608, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2012/19780-3FAPESP: 2012/19851-8FAPESP: 2009/53766-5Web of Scienc