Interactions of the 3pπᵤc¹Πᵤ(v=2) Rydberg-complex member in isotopic N₂

The 3pπᵤc¹Πᵤ−X¹Σg⁺(2,0)Rydberg and b′¹Σᵤ⁺−X¹Σg⁺(7,0) valence transitions of ¹⁴N₂, ¹⁴N¹⁵N, and ¹⁵N₂ are studied using laser-based 1 extreme ultraviolet (XUV)+1′UV two-photon-ionization spectroscopy, supplemented by synchrotron-based photoabsorption measurements in the case of ¹⁴N₂. For each isotopomer, effective rotational interactions between the c(v=2) and b′(v=7) levels are found to cause strong Λ-doubling in c(v=2) and dramatic P∕R-branch intensity anomalies in the b′−X(7,0) band due to the effects of quantum interference. Local perturbations in energy and predissociation line width for the c(v=2)Rydberg level are observed and attributed to a spin-orbit interaction with the crossing, short-lived C³Πᵤ(v=17) valence level.This research was partially supported by Australian Research Council Discovery Program Grant Nos. DP0558962 and DP0773050

ESA's wind Lidar mission ADM-AEOLUS; on-going scientific activities related to calibration, retrieval and instrument operation

The Earth Explorer Atmospheric Dynamics Mission (ADM-Aeolus) of ESA will be the first-ever satellite to provide global observations of wind profiles from space. Its single payload, namely the Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument (ALADIN) is a directdetection high spectral resolution Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL), operating at 355 nm, with a fringe-imaging receiver (analysing aerosol and cloud backscatter) and a double-edge receiver (analysing molecular backscatter). In order to meet the stringent mission requirements on wind retrieval, ESA is conducting various science support activities for the consolidation of the on-ground data processing, calibration and sampling strategies. Results from a recent laboratory experiment to study Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering and improve the characterisation of the molecular lidar backscatter signal detected by the ALADIN double-edge Fabry- Perot receiver will be presented in this paper. The experiment produced the most accurate ever-measured Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering profiles for a range of temperature, pressure and gases, representative of Earth’s atmosphere. The measurements were used to validate the Tenti S6 model, which is implemented in the ADM-Aeolus ground processor. First results from the on-going Vertical Aeolus Measurement Positioning (VAMP) study will be also reported. This second study aims at the optimisation of the ADM-Aeolus vertical sampling in order to maximise the information content of the retrieved winds, taking into account the atmospheric dynamical and optical heterogeneity. The impact of the Aeolus wind profiles on Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and stratospheric circulation modelling for the different vertical sampling strategies is also being estimated

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling of the antinociceptive effects of (+)-tramadol in the rat: role of cytochrome P450 2D activity

In this study the role of cytochrome P450 2D (CYP2D) in the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship of (+)-tramadol [(+)-T] has been explored in rats. Male Wistar rats were infused with (+)-T in the absence of and during pretreatment with a reversible CYP2D inhibitor quinine (Q), determining plasma concentrations of Q, (+)-T, and (+)-O-demethyltramadol [(+)-M1], and measuring antinociception. Pharmacokinetics of (+)-M1, but not (+)-T, was affected by Q pretreatment: early after the start of (+)-T infusion, levels of (+)-M1 were significantly lower (P < 0.05). However, at later times during Q infusion those levels increased continuously, exceeding the values found in animals that did not receive the inhibitor. These results suggest that CYP2D is involved in the formation and elimination of (+)-M1. In fact, results from another experiment where (+)-M1 was given in the presence and in absence of Q showed that (+)-M1 elimination clearance (CL(ME0)) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in animals receiving Q. Inhibition of both (+)-M1 formation clearance (CL(M10)) and CL(ME0) were modeled by an inhibitory E(MAX) model, and the estimates (relative standard error) of the maximum degree of inhibition (E(MAX)) and IC(50), plasma concentration of Q eliciting half of E(MAX) for CL(M10) and CL(ME0), were 0.94 (0.04), 97 (0.51) ng/ml, and 48 (0.42) ng/ml, respectively. The modeling of the time course of antinociception showed that the contribution of (+)-T was negligible and (+)-M1 was responsible for the observed effects, which depend linearly on (+)-M1 effect site concentrations. Therefore, the CYP2D activity is a major determinant of the antinociception elicited after (+)-T administration

Absolute and Relative Surrogate Measurements of the \u3csup\u3e236\u3c/sup\u3eU(\u3cem\u3en,f\u3c/em\u3e) Cross Section as a Probe of Angular Momentum Effects

Using both the absolute and relative surrogate techniques, the 236U(n,f) cross section was deduced over an equivalent neutron energy range of 0 to 20 MeV. A 42 MeV 3He beam from the 88 Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was used to perform a (3He,α) pickup reaction on targets of 235U (Jπ=7/2−) and 238U (Jπ = 0+) and the fission decay probabilities were determined. The 235U(3He,αf) and 238U(3He,αf) were surrogates for 233U(n,f) and 236U(n,f), respectively. The cross sections extracted using the surrogate method were compared to directly measured cross sections. The sensitivity of these cross sections to the Jπ -population distributions was explored

Deducing the \u3csup\u3e237\u3c/sup\u3eU(\u3cem\u3en,f\u3c/em\u3e) Cross Section Using the Surrogate Ratio Method

We have deduced the cross section for 237U(n, f) over an equivalent neutron energy range from 0 to 20 MeV using the surrogate ratio method. A 55 MeV4He beam from the 88 inch cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was used to induce fission in the following reactions: 238U(α, αf) and 236U(α, αf). The 238U reaction was a surrogate for 237U(n, f), and the 236U reaction was used as a surrogate for 235U(n, f). Scattered α particles were detected in a fully depleted segmented silicon telescope array over an angle range of 35° to 60° with respect to the beam axis. The fission fragments were detected in a third independent silicon detector located at backward angles between 106° and 131°

Surrogate Ratio Method in the Actinide Region Using the (\u3cem\u3eα,α\u27f\u3c/em\u3e) Reaction

In the Surrogate Method, the measured decay probability of a compound nucleus formed via a direct reaction is used to extract the cross section for a reaction with a different entrance channel that proceeds through the same compound nucleus. An extension of the Surrogate Method, the Surrogate Ratio Method (SRM), uses a ratio of measured decay probabilities to infer an unknown cross section relative to a known one. To test the SRM we compare the direct-reaction-induced fission probability ratio of 234U(α, α’ f ) to 236U(α, α’f ) with the ratio of cross sections of 233U(n, f ) to 235U(n, f ). These ratios were found to be in agreement over an equivalent neutron energy range of 0.4–18 MeV

The Pharmacokinetics and Interactions of Ivermectin in Humans—A Mini-review

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug with a broad spectrum of activity, high efficacy as well as a wide margin of safety. Since 1987, this compound has a widespread use in veterinary medicine and it use has been extended in humans. Here we present a brief review of the information availabile regarding the pharmacokinetics and interactions of ivermectin in humans. Awareness of these characteristics could improve the clinical efficacy of Ivermectin. All Authors declare that they do not have any Conflict of interest and that the work is original. All Authors agree that the contents of the manuscript are confidential and will not be copyrighted, submitted, or published elsewhere (including the Internet), in any language, while acceptance by the Journal is under consideration

Curative and organ-preserving treatment with intra-arterial carboplatin induction followed by surgery and/or radiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer: single-center five-year results

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the feasibility, toxicity, response rate and survival of neoadjuvant superselective intra-arterial infusion of high dose carboplatin in advanced head and neck cancer. METHODS: Forty-six patients with primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma received 3 cycles of intra-arterial carboplatin (300 to 350 mg/m(2 )per cycle every 2 weeks), followed by radiotherapy or surgery plus radiotherapy. RESULTS: No complications or severe toxicity occurred. Sixteen patients (35%) were complete responders, 20 (43%) partial responders while 10 (22%) did not respond to treatment. After completion of the multimodality treatment, 38/46 patients (83%) were complete responders. After a 5-year follow-up period, 18/46 patients (39%) are alive and disease-free, 3 (6,5%) have died of a second primary tumor and 25 (54,5%) have died of the disease. CONCLUSION: Intra-arterial carboplatin induction chemotherapy is a safe, well-tolerated technique that discriminates between responders and non-responders and so may have prognostic significance in planning further integrated treatments aimed to organ preservation for advanced head and neck carcinomas

Quantification of endogenous levels of IAA, IAAsp and IBA in micro-propagated shoots of hybrid chestnut pre-treated with IBA

Endogenous levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-acetylaspartic acid (IAAsp) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were measured during the first 8 d of in vitro rooting of rootstock from the chestnut ‘M3’ hybrid by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Rooting was induced either by dipping the basal ends of the shoots into a 4.92-mM IBA solution for 1 min or by sub-culturing the shoots on solid rooting medium supplemented with 14.8- μM IBA for 5 d. For root development, the induced shoots were transferred to auxin-free solid medium. Auxins were measured in the apical and basal parts of the shoots by means of HPLC. Endogenous levels of IAA and IAAsp were found to be greater in IBA-treated shoots than in control shoots. In extracts of the basal parts of the shoots, the concentration of free IAA showed a significant peak 2 d after either root inductive method and a subsequent gradual decrease for the remainder of the time course. The concentration of IAAsp peaked at day 6 in extracts of the basal parts of shoots induced with 14.8-μM IBA for 5 d, whereas shoots induced by dipping showed an initial increase until day 2 and then remained stable. In extracts from basal shoot portions induced by dipping, IBA concentration showed a transient peak at day 1 and a plateau between day 2 and 4, in contrast to the profile of shoots induced on auxin-containing medium, which showed a significant reduction between 4 and 6 d after transferred to auxin-free medium. All quantified auxins remained at a relatively low level, virtually constant, in extracts from apical shoot portions, as well as in extracts from control non-rooting shoots. In conclusion, the natural auxin IAA is the signal responsible for root induction, although it is driven by exogenous IBA independently of the adding conditions

Competing particle–hole excitations in ³⁰Na: Constraining state-of-the-art effective interactions

The odd–odd nucleus ³⁰Na is studied via a one-proton, one-proton–one-neutron and one-neutron removal reaction using an intermediate-energy ³¹Mg, ³²Mg and ³¹Na radioactive ion beam, respectively. Combining high-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy with the selectivity of the three reaction mechanisms, we are able to distinguish multiple particle–hole configurations. Negative-parity states in ³⁰Na are observed for the first time, providing an important measure of the excitation of the 1p1h/3p3h configuration and hence the sd–pf shell gap. The extracted band structures and level energies serve as invaluable input for the theoretical refinement of the effective interactions used in this region