Laboratory measurements and theoretical calculations of O_2 A band electric quadrupole transitions

Frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy was utilized to measure electric quadrupole transitions within the ^(16)O_2 A band, b^1Σ^+_g ← X^3Σ^-_g(0,0). We report quantitative measurements (relative uncertainties in intensity measurements from 4.4% to 11%) of nine ultraweak transitions in the ^NO, ^PO, ^RS, and ^TS branches with line intensities ranging from 3×10^(−30) to 2×10^(−29) cm molec.^(−1). A thorough discussion of relevant noise sources and uncertainties in this experiment and other cw-cavity ring-down spectrometers is given. For short-term averaging (t<100 s), we estimate a noise-equivalent absorption of 2.5×10^(−10) cm^(−1) Hz^(−1/2). The detection limit was reduced further by co-adding up to 100 spectra to yield a minimum detectable absorption coefficient equal to 1.8×10^(−11) cm^(−1), corresponding to a line intensity of ~2.5×10^(−31) cm molec.^(−1). We discuss calculations of electric quadrupole line positions based on a simultaneous fit of the ground and upper electronic state energies which have uncertainties <3 MHz, and we present calculations of electric quadrupole matrix elements and line intensities. The electric quadrupole line intensity calculations and measurements agreed on average to 5%, which is comparable to our average experimental uncertainty. The calculated electric quadrupole band intensity was 1.8(1)×10^(−27) cm molec.−1 which is equal to only ~8×10^(−6) of the magnetic dipole band intensity

Colloidal Gold - A Powerful Tool in Scanning Electron Microscope Immunocytochemistry: An Overview of Bioapplications

Colloidal gold may be conjugated to a wide variety of macromolecules, provides a versatile system for immunocytochemical studies by various types of microscopy (light and fluorescent microscopy, scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy), and is significantly contributing to the development of SEM immunocytochemistry as a routine analytical procedure. A comprehensive overview has been compiled of the literature on SEM bioapplications of colloidal gold. This is illustrated through a selected series of studies focussing on a) cell surface receptor-ligand interactions; b) expression of cell surface lectin-binding sites; c) surface distribution of extracellular matrix components; and d) visualization of gold-labelled cytoskeletal elements with emphasis on the use of backscattered electron imaging as a powerful analytical adjunct in the development of SEM immunocytochemistry

Preliminary evaluation of spectral, normal and meteorological crop stage estimation approaches

Several of the projects in the AgRISTARS program require crop phenology information, including classification, acreage and yield estimation, and detection of episodal events. This study evaluates several crop calendar estimation techniques for their potential use in the program. The techniques, although generic in approach, were developed and tested on spring wheat data collected in 1978. There are three basic approaches to crop stage estimation: historical averages for an area (normal crop calendars), agrometeorological modeling of known crop-weather relationships agrometeorological (agromet) crop calendars, and interpretation of spectral signatures (spectral crop calendars). In all, 10 combinations of planting and biostage estimation models were evaluated. Dates of stage occurrence are estimated with biases between -4 and +4 days while root mean square errors range from 10 to 15 days. Results are inconclusive as to the superiority of any of the models and further evaluation of the models with the 1979 data set is recommended

Beyond deficiency:Potential benefits of increased intakesof vitamin K for bone and vascular health

Vitamin K is wellknown for its role in the synthesisof a number of blood coagulationfactors.During recent years vitaminK-dependent proteins werediscovered to be of vital importancefor bone and vascular health.Recommendations for dietary vitaminK intake have been made onthe basis of the hepatic requirementsfor the synthesis of bloodcoagulation factors.Accumulatingevidence suggests that the requirementsfor other functions thanblood coagulation may be higher.This paper is the result of a closedworkshop (Paris,November 2002)in which a number of Europeanvitamin K experts reviewed theavailable data and formulated theirstandpoint with respect to recommendeddietary vitamin K intakeand the use of vitamin K-containingsupplements

One-Particle Excitation of the Two-Dimensional Hubbard Model

The real part of the self-energy of interacting two-dimensional electrons has been calculated in the t-matrix approximation. It is shown that the forward scattering results in an anomalous term leading to the vanishing renormalization factor of the one-particle Green function, which is a non-perturbative effect of the interaction U. The present result is a microscopic demonstration of the claim by Anderson based on the conventional many-body theory. The effect of the damping of the interacting electrons, which has been ignored in reaching above conclusion, has been briefly discussed.Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX, 1 figure, uses jpsj.sty, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 66 No. 3 (1997

Quasi-Particles in Two-Dimensional Hubbard Model: Splitting of Spectral Weight

It is shown that the energy $(\varepsilon)$ and momentum $(k)$ dependences of the electron self-energy function $\Sigma (k, \varepsilon + i0) \equiv \Sigma^{R}(k, \varepsilon)$ are, ${\rm Im} \Sigma^{R} (k, \varepsilon) = -a\varepsilon^{2}|\varepsilon - \xi_{k}|^{- \gamma (k)}$ where $a$ is some constant, $\xi_{k} = \varepsilon(k)-\mu, \varepsilon(k)$ being the band energy, and the critical exponent $\gamma(k)$, which depends on the curvature of the Fermi surface at $k$, satisfies, $0 \leq \gamma(k) \leq 1$. This leads to a new type of electron liquid, which is the Fermi liquid in the limit of $\varepsilon, \xi_{k} \rightarrow 0$ but for $\xi_{k} \neq 0$ has a split one-particle spectra as in the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid.Comment: 8 pages (LaTeX) 4 figures available upon request will be sent by air mail. KomabaCM-preprint-O

Novel use Of Hydroxyurea in an African Region with Malaria (NOHARM): a trial for children with sickle cell anemia

Hydroxyurea treatment is recommended for children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) living in high-resource malaria-free regions, but its safety and efficacy in malaria-endemic sub-Saharan Africa, where the greatest sickle-cell burden exists, remain unknown. In vitro studies suggest hydroxyurea could increase malaria severity, and hydroxyurea-associated neutropenia could worsen infections. NOHARM (Novel use Of Hydroxyurea in an African Region with Malaria) was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted in malaria-endemic Uganda, comparing hydroxyurea to placebo at 20 ± 2.5 mg/kg per day for 12 months. The primary outcome was incidence of clinical malaria. Secondary outcomes included SCA-related adverse events (AEs), clinical and laboratory effects, and hematological toxicities. Children received either hydroxyurea (N = 104) or placebo (N = 103). Malaria incidence did not differ between children on hydroxyurea (0.05 episodes per child per year; 95% confidence interval [0.02, 0.13]) vs placebo (0.07 episodes per child per year [0.03, 0.16]); the hydroxyurea/placebo malaria incidence rate ratio was 0.7 ([0.2, 2.7]; P = .61). Time to infection also did not differ significantly between treatment arms. A composite SCA-related clinical outcome (vaso-occlusive painful crisis, dactylitis, acute chest syndrome, splenic sequestration, or blood transfusion) was less frequent with hydroxyurea (45%) than placebo (69%; P = .001). Children receiving hydroxyurea had significantly increased hemoglobin concentration and fetal hemoglobin, with decreased leukocytes and reticulocytes. Serious AEs, sepsis episodes, and dose-limiting toxicities were similar between treatment arms. Three deaths occurred (2 hydroxyurea, 1 placebo, and none from malaria). Hydroxyurea treatment appears safe for children with SCA living in malaria-endemic sub-Saharan Africa, without increased severe malaria, infections, or AEs. Hydroxyurea provides SCA-related laboratory and clinical efficacy, but optimal dosing and monitoring regimens for Africa remain undefined. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01976416

Dewey Hodges’s Research in Structural Dynamics, Aeroelasticity, and Composites: A Personal Perspective

The contributions of Dewey Hodges within the specialized areas of structural dynamics, aeroelasticity, and composites are highlighted in this paper. Dewey Hodges has published 215 journal papers and 170 conference papers covering a wide range of topics in aerospace structures. His research and academic career span nearly five decades and it is difficult, if not impossible, to give a detailed commentary on his colossal achievement in the confines of a single paper. It is widely acknowledged that Dewey Hodges’s research record is no less than incredible. He has not only given an exceptional account of himself but has also demonstrated his extraordinary versatility in research. The author of this paper has known him both personally and professionally for nearly three decades and, with great humility, he acknowledges the enormous benefit he has received from his association with him. Given the huge volume of work Dewey Hodges has produced and the enormity of the task of commenting on it, the author has understandably been highly selective in choosing which contributions to discuss