Absolute cross section for Si2+(3s21S→3s3p1P) electron-impact excitation

We have measured the absolute cross section for electron-impact excitation (EIE) of Si2+(3s21S→3s3p1P) from energies below threshold to 11 eV above. A beams modulation technique with inclined electron and ion beams was used. Radiation at 120.7 nm from the excited ions was detected using an absolutely calibrated optical system. The fractional population of the Si2+(3s3p3Po) metastable state in the incident ion beam was determined to be 0.210±0.018 (1.65σ). The data have been corrected for contributions to the signal from radiative decay following excitation from the metastable state to 3s3p1P and 3p23P, and excitation from the ground state to levels above the 3s3p1P level. The experimental 0.56±0.08-eV energy spread allowed us to resolve complex resonance structure throughout the studied energy range. At the reported ±14% total experimental uncertainty level (1.65σ), the measured structure and absolute scale of the cross section are in good agreement with 12-state close-coupling R-matrix calculations

Absolute measurement of dielectronic recombination for C3+ in a known external field

An absolute measurement of the rate coefficient for dielectronic recombination (DR) of C3+, via the 2s-2p core excitation, in an external electric field of 11.4±0.9(1σ) V cm-1 is presented. An inclined-beam arrangement is used and the stabilizing photons at ∼155 nm are detected in delayed coincidence with the recombined ions. The full width at half maximum of the electron energy spread in the ion rest frame is 1.74±0.22(1σ) eV. The measured DR rate, at a mean electron energy of 8.26±0.07(1σ) eV, is (2.76±0.75)×10-10 cm3 s-1. The uncertainty quoted for the DR rate is the total uncertainty, systematic and statistical, at the 1σ level. In comparing the present results to theory, a semiempirical formula is used to determine which recombined ion states are ionized by the 4.65 kV cm-1 fields in the final-charge-state analyzer and not detected. For the present results, any DR of the incident electrons into n levels greater than 44 is assumed to be field ionized in the final-charge-state analyzer. A more precise treatment of field ionization, which includes the lifetime of the C2+ ions before they are ionized and the time evolution and rotation of the fields experienced by the recombined ions, is needed before a definitive comparison between experiment and theory can be made. Our DR measurement, within the limits of that approach, agrees reasonably well with an intermediate coupling calculation that uses an isolated resonance, single-configuration approximation, but does not agree with pure LS-coupling calculations

Reevaluation of experiments and new theoretical calculations for electron-impact excitation of C3+

Experimental absolute-rate coefficients for electron-impact excitation of C3+ (2s2S1/2→2p2P1/2,3/2) near threshold [D. W. Savin, L. D. Gardner, D. B. Reisenfeld, A. R. Young, and J. L. Kohl, Phys. Rev. A 51, 2162 (1995)] have been reanalyzed to include a more accurate determination of optical efficiency and revised radiometric uncertainties which reduce the total systematic uncertainty of the results. Also, new R matrix with pseudostates (RMPS) calculations for this transition near threshold are presented. Comparison of the RMPS results to those of simpler close-coupling calculations indicates the importance of accounting for target continuum effects. The reanalyzed results of Savin et al. are in excellent agreement with the RMPS calculations; comparisons are also made to other measurements of this excitation. Agreement with the RMPS results is better for fluorescence technique measurements than for electron-energy-loss measurements

Drosophila MUS312 and the Vertebrate Ortholog BTBD12 Interact with DNA Structure-Specific Endonucleases in DNA Repair and Recombination

DNA recombination and repair pathways require structure-specific endonucleases to process DNA structures that include forks, flaps, and Holliday junctions. Previously, we determined that the Drosophila MEI-9-ERCC1 endonuclease interacts with the novel MUS312 protein to produce meiotic crossovers, and that MUS312 has a MEI-9-independent role in interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair. The importance of MUS312 to pathways crucial for maintaining genomic stability in Drosophila prompted us to search for orthologs in other organisms. Based on sequence, expression pattern, conserved protein-protein interactions, and ICL repair function, we determined that the mammalian ortholog of MUS312 is BTBD12. Orthology between these proteins and S. cerevisiae Slx4 helped identify a conserved interaction with a second structure-specific endonuclease, SLX1. Genetic and biochemical evidence described here and in related papers suggest that MUS312 and BTBD12 direct Holliday junction resolution by at least two distinct endonucleases in different recombination and repair contexts

Development of a reverse genetics system for Toscana virus (lineage A)

Toscana virus (TOSV) is a Phlebovirus in the Phenuiviridae family, order Bunyavirales, found in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean. TOSV is an important cause of seasonal acute meningitis and encephalitis within its range. Here, we determined the full sequence of the TOSV strain 1500590, a lineage A virus obtained from an infected patient (Marseille, 2007) and used this in combination with other sequence information to construct functional cDNA plasmids encoding the viral L, M, and S antigenomic sequences under the control of the T7 RNA promoter to recover recombinant viruses. Importantly, resequencing identified two single nucleotide changes to a TOSV reference genome, which, when corrected, restored functionality to the polymerase L and made it possible to recover infectious recombinant TOSV (rTOSV) from cDNA, as well as establish a minigenome system. Using reverse genetics, we produced an NSs-deletant rTOSV and also obtained viruses expressing reporter genes instead of NSs. The availability of such a system assists investigating questions that require genetic manipulation of the viral genome, such as investigations into replication and tropism, and beyond these fundamental aspects, also the development of novel vaccine design strategies

Netrin-1 Peptide Is a Chemorepellent in \u3cem\u3eTetrahymena thermophila\u3c/em\u3e

Netrin-1 is a highly conserved, pleiotropic signaling molecule that can serve as a neuronal chemorepellent during vertebrate development. In vertebrates, chemorepellent signaling is mediated through the tyrosine kinase, src-1, and the tyrosine phosphatase, shp-2. Tetrahymena thermophila has been used as a model system for chemorepellent signaling because its avoidance response is easily characterized under a light microscope. Our experiments showed that netrin-1 peptide is a chemorepellent in T. thermophila at micromolar concentrations. T. thermophila adapts to netrin-1 over a time course of about 10 minutes. Netrin-adapted cells still avoid GTP, PACAP-38, and nociceptin, suggesting that netrin does not use the same signaling machinery as any of these other repellents. Avoidance of netrin-1 peptide was effectively eliminated by the addition of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, to the assay buffer; however, immunostaining using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody showed similar fluorescence levels in control and netrin-1 exposed cells, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation i s not required for signaling to occur. In addition, ELISA indicates that a netrin-like peptide is present in both whole cell extract and secreted protein obtained from Tetrahymena thermophila. Further study will be required in order to fully elucidate the signaling mechanism of netrin-1 peptide in this organism

Unusual cause of exercise-induced ventricular fibrillation in a well-trained adult endurance athlete: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The diseases responsible for sudden deaths in athletes differ considerably with regard to age. In young athletes, congenital malformations of the heart and/or vascular system cause the majority of deaths and can only be detected noninvasively by complex diagnostics. In contrast, in older athletes who die suddenly, atherosclerotic disease of the coronary arteries is mostly found. Reports of congenital coronary anomalies as a cause of sudden death in older athletes are rare.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 48-year-old man who was a well-trained, long-distance runner collapsed at the finish of a half marathon because of a myocardial infarction with ventricular fibrillation. Coronary angiography showed an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva with minimal wall alterations. Multislice computed tomography of the coronary arteries confirmed these findings. Cardiomagnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mild hypokinesia of the basal right- and left-ventricular posterior wall. An electrophysiological study showed an inducible temporary polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and an inducible ventricular fibrillation. The athlete was subsequently treated by acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg (0-1-0), bisoprolol 2.5 mg (1-0-0) and atorvastatin 10 mg (0-0-1) and was instructed to keep his training intensity under the 'individual anaerobic threshold'. Intense and long-lasting exercise under extreme environmental conditions, particularly heat, should also be avoided.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case report presents a coronary anomaly as the most likely reason for an exercise-induced myocardial infarction with ventricular fibrillation in a well-trained 48-year-old endurance athlete. Therefore, coronary anomalies have also to be considered as a possible cause of cardiac problems in older athletes.</p

Recoil Polarization Measurements of the Proton Electromagnetic Form Factor Ratio to Q^2 = 8.5 GeV^2

Among the most fundamental observables of nucleon structure, electromagnetic form factors are a crucial benchmark for modern calculations describing the strong interaction dynamics of the nucleon's quark constituents; indeed, recent proton data have attracted intense theoretical interest. In this letter, we report new measurements of the proton electromagnetic form factor ratio using the recoil polarization method, at momentum transfers Q2=5.2, 6.7, and 8.5 GeV2. By extending the range of Q2 for which GEp is accurately determined by more than 50%, these measurements will provide significant constraints on models of nucleon structure in the non-perturbative regime