Entropic gravity, minimum temperature, and modified Newtonian dynamics

Verlinde's heuristic argument for the interpretation of the standard Newtonian gravitational force as an entropic force is generalized by the introduction of a minimum temperature (or maximum wave length) for the microscopic degrees of freedom on the holographic screen. With the simplest possible setup, the resulting gravitational acceleration felt by a test mass m from a point mass M at a distance R is found to be of the form of the modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) as suggested by Milgrom. The corresponding MOND-type acceleration constant is proportional to the minimum temperature, which can be interpreted as the Unruh temperature of an emerging de-Sitter space. This provides a possible explanation of the connection between local MOND-type two-body systems and cosmology.Comment: 12 pages, v6: published versio

Political legitimacy in decisions about experiments in solar radiation management

Some types of solar radiation management (SRM) research are ethically problematic because they expose persons, animals, and ecosystems to significant risks. In our earlier work, we argued for ethical norms for SRM research based on norms for biomedical research. Biomedical researchers may not conduct research on persons without their consent, but universal consent is impractical for SRM research. We argue that instead of requiring universal consent, ethical norms for SRM research require only political legitimacy in decision-making about global SRM trials. Using Allen Buchanan & Robert Keohane's model of global political legitimacy, we examine several existing global institutions as possible analogues for a politically legitimate SRM decision-making body

Interpretation of Cathodoluminescence Spectra Obtained from Dolomite and Calcite Gangue Minerals, and Dolostone Breccias in the Central Tennessee Zinc District (U.S.A.)

Spectral patterns were obtained for zoned dolomite and unzoned calcite gangue, and dolostone breccia fragments from the Right Fork area in the central Tennessee zinc district (U.S.A.). The samples had been analyzed previously for Fe, Mn, and other trace elements using a synchrotron XRF probe. Spectra were obtained for zoned dolomite, breccia fragments, and unzoned calcite using an ELM2-B cold-cathode Luminoscope attached to an Oriel Multispec Compact Spectrograph. Spectra obtained for the prominent dolomite zones, which luminesce medium-bright to bright red to the eye, revealed a broad peak in the vicinity of 460 nm and a more intense peak in the vicinity of 655 nm. Several trial least squares spectral decompositions suggest that the spectra are composites of five peaks. The broad peak at 460 nm appears to consist of two peaks at 439 nm and 546 nm. The intense peak at 655 nm, which is normally assigned to Mn, appears to have two less intense peaks as shoulders at 704 nm and 727 nm. These shoulders do not appear to be artifacts. They may be due to additional Mn2+ peaks or to the presence of Mn in a higher valence state. Fe, which is assumed to quench Mn-activated luminescence in carbonates, produces peaks in orthoclase and plagioclase which are very close to the peaks observed here. The integrated intensities for the peak at 655 nm appear to be related most closely to Fe/Mn ratios. In spite of a three-fold difference in the intensity of the dominant peak, as recorded by the spectrograph, differences in intensity from sample to sample were not obvious to the eye

Extended microsatellite analysis in microsatellite stable, MSH2 and MLH1 mutation-negative HNPCC patients: Genetic reclassification and correlation with clinical features

Background: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant disorder predisposing to predominantly colorectal cancer (CRC) and endometrial cancer frequently due to germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, mainly MLH1, MSH2 and also MSH6 in families seen to demonstrate an excess of endometrial cancer. As a consequence, tumors in HNPCC reveal alterations in the length of simple repetitive genomic sequences like poly-A, poly-T, CA or GT repeats (microsatellites) in at least 90% of the cases. Aim of the Study: The study cohort consisted of 25 HNPCC index patients ( 19 Amsterdam positive, 6 Bethesda positive) who revealed a microsatellite stable (MSS) - or low instable (MSI-L) - tumor phenotype with negative mutation analysis for the MMR genes MLH1 and MSH2. An extended marker panel (BAT40, D10S197, D13S153, D18S58, MYCL1) was analyzed for the tumors of these patients with regard to three aspects. First, to reconfirm the MSI-L phenotype found by the standard panel; second, to find minor MSIs which might point towards an MSH6 mutation, and third, to reconfirm the MSS status of hereditary tumors. The reconfirmation of the MSS status of tumors not caused by mutations in the MMR genes should allow one to define another entity of hereditary CRC. Their clinical features were compared with those of 150 patients with sporadic CRCs. Results: In this way, 17 MSS and 8 MSI-L tumors were reclassified as 5 MSS, 18 MSI-L and even 2 MSI-H ( high instability) tumors, the last being seen to demonstrate at least 4 instable markers out of 10. Among all family members, 87 malignancies were documented. The mean age of onset for CRCs was the lowest in the MSI-H-phenotyped patients with 40.5 +/- 4.9 years (vs. 47.0 +/- 14.6 and 49.8 +/- 11.9 years in MSI-L- and MSS-phenotyped patients, respectively). The percentage of CRC was the highest in families with MSS-phenotyped tumors (88%), followed by MSI-L-phenotyped ( 78%) and then by MSI-H-phenotyped (67%) tumors. MSS tumors were preferentially localized in the distal colon supposing a similar biologic behavior like sporadic CRC. MSH6 mutation analysis for the MSI-L and MSI-H patients revealed one truncating mutation for a patient initially with an MSS tumor, which was reclassified as MSI-L by analyzing the extended marker panel. Conclusion: Extended microsatellite analysis serves to evaluate the sensitivity of the reference panel for HNPCC detection and permits phenotype confirmation or upgrading. Additionally, it confirms the MSS status of hereditary CRCs not caused by the common mutations in the MMR genes and provides hints to another entity of hereditary CRC. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Parametrization of the Driven Betatron Oscillation

An AC dipole is a magnet which produces a sinusoidally oscillating dipole field and excites coherent transverse beam motion in a synchrotron. By observing this coherent motion, the optical parameters can be directly measured at the beam position monitor locations. The driven oscillation induced by an AC dipole will generate a phase space ellipse which differs from that of the free oscillation. If not properly accounted for, this difference can lead to a misinterpretation of the actual optical parameters, for instance, of 6% or more in the cases of the Tevatron, RHIC, or LHC. The effect of an AC dipole on the linear optics parameters is identical to that of a thin lens quadrupole. By introducing a new amplitude function to describe this new phase space ellipse, the motion produced by an AC dipole becomes easier to interpret. Beam position data taken under the influence of an AC dipole, with this new interpretation in mind, can lead to more precise measurements of the normal Courant-Snyder parameters. This new parameterization of the driven motion is presented and is used to interpret data taken in the FNAL Tevatron using an AC dipole.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, and 1 tabl

A new look at a polar crown cavity as observed by SDO/AIA

Context. The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) was launched in February 2010 and is now providing an unprecedented view of the solar activity at high spatial resolution and high cadence covering a broad range of temperature layers of the atmosphere. Aims. We aim at defining the structure of a polar crown cavity and describing its evolution during the erupting process. Methods. We use the high-cadence time series of SDO/AIA observations at 304 Å (50 000 K) and 171 Å (0.6 MK) to determine the structure of the polar crown cavity and its associated plasma, as well as the evolution of the cavity during the different phases of the eruption. We report on the observations recorded on 13 June 2010 located on the north-west limb. Results. We observe coronal plasma shaped by magnetic field lines with a negative curvature (U-shape) sitting at the bottom of a cavity. The cavity is located just above the polar crown filament material. We thus observe the inner part of the cavity above the filament as depicted in the classical three part coronal mass ejection (CME) model composed of a filament, a cavity, and a CME front. The filament (in this case a polar crown filament) is part of the cavity, and it makes a continuous structuring from the filament to the CME front depicted by concentric ellipses (in a 2D cartoon). Conclusions. We propose to define a polar crown cavity as a density depletion sitting above denser polar crown filament plasma drained down the cavity by gravity. As part of the polar crown filament, plasma at different temperatures (ranging from 50 000 K to 0.6 MK) is observed at the same location on the cavity dips and sustained by a competition between the gravity and the curvature of magnetic field lines. The eruption of the polar crown cavity as a solid body can be decomposed into two phases: a slow rise at a speed of 0.6 km s-1 and an acceleration phase at a mean speed of 25 km s-1

Human HT-29 colon carcinoma cells contain mucarinic M3_3 receptors coupled to phosphoinositide metabolism

Five different musearlnie receptor subtypes ean be distinguished by the differenees in their amino aeid sequence, the eoupled signal transduetion system, pharmaeologieal binding properties and aetivation of ionie fluxes. The present study served to eharaeterize the binding profile of musearlnie receptors in human eolon eareinoma eells (HT-29) using seleetive musearlnie antagonists. The affinities of the compounds were eompared with their poteney to inhibit cholinergieally-aetivated phosphoinositide metabolism. Pirenzepine displaced [$^3$H]N-methyl-scopolamine binding and inhibited inositolphosphate (IP) release with potencies typieal of those of non-M$_1$ receptors. The M$_3$ subtype-selective antagonists sila-hexocyelium and hexahydro-sila-difenidol bad high affinity to the musearlnie reeeptors in HT-29 cells (K0 = 3.1 nM and 27 nM, respectively) and inhibited IP release at nanomolar concentrations. The M$_2$ receptor antagonists, AF-DX 116 and methoctramine, had low antimusearinic poteneies. Our results demonstrate that HT-29 human colon earcinoma cells contain an apparently pure population of M$_3$ receptors. These cells could serve as a model system for further investigations coneerning regulatory and signal transduction mechanisms associated with glandular muscarinic M$_3$ receptors

Beam Tests of Ionization Chambers for the NuMI Neutrino Beam

We have conducted tests at the Fermilab Booster of ionization chambers to be used as monitors of the NuMI neutrino beamline. The chambers were exposed to proton fluxes of up to 10$^{12}$ particles/cm$^2$/1.56$\mu$s. We studied space charge effects which can reduce signal collection from the chambers at large charged particle beam intensities.Comment: submitted to IEEE Trans Nucl. Sc