Transcriptional Termination Modulated by Nucleotides Outside the Characterized Gene End Sequence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

AbstractThe genes of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus are transcribed sequentially by the viral RNA polymerase from a single 3′-proximal promoter. Polyadenylation and termination are directed by a sequence at the end of each gene, after which the polymerase crosses an intergenic region and reinitiates at the start sequence of the next gene. The 10 viral genes have different gene end sequences and different termination efficiencies, which allow for regulation of gene expression, since termination of each gene is required for initiation of the downstream gene. RNA sequences within the previously characterized 13 nucleotide gene end, including a conserved sequence 3′-UCAAU-5′ and a tract of U residues, are important for termination. In this study, two additional sequence elements outside of the 13 nucleotide gene end were found to modulate termination efficiency: the A residue upstream of the 3′-UCAAU-5′ sequence, and the first nucleotide of the intergenic region when it follows a U4 tract

Long-term source monitoring with BATSE

The uncollimated Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) large area detectors (LADs) are well suited to nearly continuous monitoring of the stronger hard x-ray sources, and time series analysis for pulsars. An overview of the analysis techniques presently being applied to the data are discussed, including representative observations of the Crab Nebula, Crab pulsar, and summaries of the sources detected to data. Results of a search for variability in the Crab Pulsar pulse profile are presented

Hyperfine interaction induced decoherence of electron spins in quantum dots

We investigate in detail, using both analytical and numerical tools, the decoherence of electron spins in quantum dots (QDs) coupled to a bath of nuclear spins in magnetic fields or with various initial bath polarizations, focusing on the longitudinal relaxation in low and moderate field/polarization regimes. An increase of the initial polarization of nuclear spin bath has the same effect on the decoherence process as an increase of the external magnetic field, namely, the decoherence dynamics changes from smooth decay to damped oscillations. This change can be observed experimentally for a single QD and for a double-QD setup. Our results indicate that substantial increase of the decoherence time requires very large bath polarizations, and the use of other methods (dynamical decoupling or control of the nuclear spins distribution) may be more practical for suppressing decoherence of QD-based qubits.Comment: Rev. Tex, 5 pages, 3 eps color figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Effect of ligand substitution on the exchange interactions in {Mn12}-type single-molecule magnets

We investigate how the ligand substitution affects the intra-molecular spin exchange interactions, studying a prototypal family of single-molecule magnets comprising dodecanuclear cluster molecules [Mn12O12(COOR)16]. We identify a simple scheme based on accumulated Pauling electronegativity numbers (a.e.n.) of the carboxylate ligand groups (R). The redistribution of the electron density, controlled by a.e.n. of a ligand, changes the degree of hybridization between 3d electrons of manganese and 2p electrons of oxygen atoms, thus changing the exchange interactions. This scheme, despite its conceptual simplicity, provides a strong correlation with the exchange energies associated with carboxylate bridges, and is confirmed by the electronic structure calculations taking into account the Coulomb correlations in magnetic molecules.Comment: 18 pages, 1 table, 4 figures. Accepted to "Inorganic Chemistry

Occultation analysis of BATSE data: Operational aspects

The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) large area detectors are being used to monitor hard x-ray/gamma ray sources on a daily basis for evidence of transient behavior. Flux measurements are performed using a simple earth occultation technique. Daily searches are also being performed to detect occultation steps of sources which are not being routinely monitored. Topics concerning the operational aspects of the occultation measurements are presented. Preliminary spectral results are also presented for several of the brighter sources

The Burst and Transient Source Experiment Earth Occultation Technique

An Earth orbiting detector sensitive to gamma ray photons will see step-like occultation features in its counting rate when a gamma ray point source crosses the Earth's limb. This is due to the change in atmospheric attenuation of the gamma rays along the line of sight. In an uncollimated detector, these occultation features can be used to locate and monitor astrophysical sources provided their signals can be individually separated from the detector background. We show that the Earth occultation technique applied to the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) is a viable and flexible all-sky monitor in the low energy gamma ray and hard X-ray energy range (20 keV - 1 MeV). The method is an alternative to more sophisticated photon imaging devices for astronomy, and can serve well as a cost-effective science capability for monitoring the high energy sky. Here we describe the Earth occultation technique for locating new sources and for measuring source intensity and spectra without the use of complex background models. Examples of transform imaging, step searches, spectra, and light curves are presented. Systematic uncertainties due to source confusion, detector response, and contamination from rapid background fluctuations are discussed and analyzed for their effect on intensity measurements. A sky location-dependent average systematic error is derived as a function of galactic coordinates. The sensitivity of the technique is derived as a function of incident photon energy and also as a function of angle between the source and the normal to the detector entrance window. Occultations of the Crab Nebula by the Moon are used to calibrate Earth occultation flux measurements independent of possible atmospheric scattering effects.Comment: 39 pages, 24 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement

Magnetic ordering in EuRh2As2 studied by x-ray resonant magnetic scattering

Element-specific x-ray resonant magnetic scattering investigations were performed to determine the magnetic structure of Eu in EuRh2As2. In the temperature range from 46 K down to 6 K, an incommensurate antiferromagnetic (ICM)structure with a temperature dependent propagation vector (0 0 0.9) coexists with a commensurate antiferromagnetic (CM) structure. Angular-dependent measurements of the magnetic intensity indicate that the magnetic moments lie in the tetragonal basal plane and are ferromagnetically aligned within the a-b plane for both magnetic structures. The ICM structure is a spiral-like magnetic structure with a turn angle of 162 deg between adjacent Eu planes. In the CM structure, this angle is 180 deg. These results are consistent with band-structure calculations which indicate a strong sensitivity of the magnetic configuration on the Eu valence.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures (technical problem with abstract corrected, no other changes