Reactions of N+ (3P) ions with H2 and HD molecules at low temperatures

International audienceContext. This work is motivated by the necessity to take account of both the nuclear spin symmetries of H 2 and the spin-orbit interaction of N + ions in order to investigate gas phase reactions in interstellar chemistry, leading to the formation of nitrogenous and deuterated compounds. Aims. The main objective in this work is to determine the rate coefficients for each possible initial quantum state of the reactants N + (3 P j) + H 2 (J) (and their isotopic variants). Only in this way does it become possible both to analyse experimental data and to develop realistic applications to interstellar chemical models to constrain the gas phase chemistry of ammonia and its isotopologues. Methods. A statistical treatment is presented of state selective reactive collisions involving N + ions in fine structure state j with H 2 or HD molecules in a rotation level J of the ground vibration state, leading either to the production of NH + ions and H in the case of the H 2 reactant, and to the production of either NH + ions or ND + in the case of the HD reactant. The energies of fine structure states (j = 0, 1, 2) of the N + ions are treated on an equal footing with the other energies of internal motions. All fine structure states are considered to be reactive. Results. Cross sections for state-to-state collisions are calculated for collision energies ranging from 0.1–30 meV. These cross sections are then averaged over the kinetic energies of the reactants for each (J, j) to obtain the rate coefficients for a range of kinetic temperatures 10–200 K. The exo/endothermicity of the reactions involving N + (3 P j) + H 2 (J) (and isotopic variants) is derived from the difference ∆E e between the dissociation energies of the electronic molecular potentials of NH + and H 2. The value ∆E e = 101 meV is found to satisfactorily reproduce the experiments performed with ortho-H 2 and to a lesser extent with para-H 2. This value is used to determine the rate coefficient of the N + + HD reaction leading to the formation of ND +. The calculated value is consistent with the available experimental data. Conclusions. The present results allow for the determination of reaction rate coefficients for any given distribution of specific fine structure and rotational state populations of the reactants. In interstellar conditions, where N + is in its 3 P 0 state and para-and ortho-H 2 respectively in J = 0 and J = 1. Our results enable a study of the influence of the ortho/para evolution of molecular hydrogen on the formation of nitrogen compounds

The house that Facilities Management built: a story of identity and metaphor in a secondary service

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Concentrating on the world of Facilities Management (FM), the metaphor of house is used alongside the concept of liminality to support further understanding of its current position as a ‘secondary’ service, and overall identity within organisations at a time of transition. FM is positioned as the storyteller of its own tale, creating a journey through recognised rooms of a conventional ‘house’ that is symbolically aligned to an associated FM function. Each room, therefore, contains a projection of FM stories [Gabriel, Y. 1995. “The Unmanaged Organisation; Stories, Fantasies and Subjectivity.” Organization Studies 16 (3): 477-501] that represent different facets of the discipline as it tries to live within one ‘home’. The study uses this unconventional approach to uncover the current identity of a discipline that strives to be strategic but is often considered non-core, hidden and ‘dying’ [PFM (Premises and Facilities Management). 2014. Accessed April 20, 2017. www.pfmonthenet.net]

Predicting beach rotation using multiple atmospheric indices

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Physiological and perceptual responses to Nintendo® Wii Fit™ in young and older adults

Physically active video gaming (AVG) provides a technologically-modern, convenient means of increasing physical activity (PA). This study examined cardiovascular, metabolic, and perceptual responses in young adult (AP) and older adult (OP) participants engaging in Wii Fitä AVG play, and compared PA levels during play to recommended PA levels. Heart rate (HR), percent heart rate reserve (%HRR), oxygen consumption (VO2), energy expenditure (EE), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), enjoyment level (EL), and step count data were obtained from 10 YP and 10 OP during 15 minutes of rest and four 15-minute bouts of Wii Fitä activities (yoga, balance, aerobics, strength). For all participants, AVG significantly increased HR, VO2, and EE measures above rest, with significant between-activity differences. Responses were similar between YP and OP, except that the activities were more intense for OP, in terms of %HRR and RPE. Most games elicited responses consistent with light-intensity PA, though peak HR and VO2 values for aerobic and strength games met or approached recommended PA intensities. Wii Fitä appears to provide an enjoyable form of light PA for both YP and OP, which can reduce inactive screen time and provide beneficial cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and metabolic stimulation

Gene therapy with Angiotensin-(1-9) preserves left ventricular systolic function after myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-(1-9) [Ang-(1-9)] is a novel peptide of the counter-regulatory axis of the renin angiotensin system previously demonstrated to have therapeutic potential in hypertensive cardiomyopathy when administered via osmotic minipump in mice. Here, we investigate whether gene transfer of Ang-(1-9) is cardioprotective in a murine model of myocardial infarction (MI). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate effects of Ang-(1-9) gene therapy on myocardial structural and functional remodeling post infarction. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice underwent permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation and cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography for 8 weeks followed by a terminal measurement of left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume loops. Ang-(1-9) was delivered by adeno-associated viral vector via single tail vein injection immediately following induction of MI. Direct effects of Ang-(1-9) on cardiomyocyte excitation–contraction coupling and cardiac contraction were evaluated in isolated mouse and human cardiomyocytes and in an ex vivo Langendorff perfused whole heart model. RESULTS: Gene delivery of Ang-(1-9) significantly reduced sudden cardiac death post-MI. Pressure–volume measurements revealed complete restoration of end systolic pressure, ejection fraction, end systolic volume and the end diastolic pressure–volume relationship by Ang-(1-9) treatment. Stroke volume and cardiac output were significantly increased versus sham. Histological analysis revealed only mild effects on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, but a significant increase in scar thickness. Direct assessment of Ang-(1-9) on isolated cardiomyocytes demonstrated a positive inotropic effect via increasing calcium transient amplitude and increasing contractility. Ang-(1-9) increased contraction in the Langendorff model through a protein kinase A-dependent mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel findings show that Ang-(1-9) gene therapy preserves LV systolic function post-MI, restoring cardiac function. Furthermore, Ang-(1-9) has a direct effect on cardiomyocyte 3 calcium handling through a protein kinase A-dependent mechanism. These data highlight Ang-(1-9) gene therapy as a potential new strategy in the context of MI

Post-Prior discrepancies in CDW-EIS calculations for ion impact ionization fully differential cross sections

In this work we present fully differential cross sections (FDCSs) calculations using post and prior version of CDW--EIS theory for helium single ionization by 100 MeV C$^{6+}$ amu$^{-1}$ and 3.6 MeV amu$^{-1}$ Au$^{24+}$ and Au$^{53+}$ ions. We performed our calculations for different momentum transfer and ejected electron energies. The influence of internuclear potential on the ejected electron spectra is taken into account in all cases. We compare our calculations with absolute experimental measurements. It is shown that prior version calculations give better agreement with experiments in almost all studied cases.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Monoketone analogs of curcumin, a new class of Fanconi anemia pathway inhibitors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway is a multigene DNA damage response network implicated in the repair of DNA lesions that arise during replication or after exogenous DNA damage. The FA pathway displays synthetic lethal relationship with certain DNA repair genes such as <it>ATM </it>(Ataxia Telangectasia Mutated) that are frequently mutated in tumors. Thus, inhibition of FANCD2 monoubiquitylation (FANCD2-Ub), a key step in the FA pathway, might target tumor cells defective in ATM through synthetic lethal interaction. Curcumin was previously identified as a weak inhibitor of FANCD2-Ub. The aim of this study is to identify derivatives of curcumin with better activity and specificity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using a replication-free assay in <it>Xenopus </it>extracts, we screened monoketone analogs of curcumin for inhibition of FANCD2-Ub and identified analog EF24 as a strong inhibitor. Mechanistic studies suggest that EF24 targets the FA pathway through inhibition of the NF-kB pathway kinase IKK. In HeLa cells, nanomolar concentrations of EF24 inhibited hydroxyurea (HU)-induced FANCD2-Ub and foci in a cell-cycle independent manner. Survival assays revealed that EF24 specifically sensitizes FA-competent cells to the DNA crosslinking agent mitomycin C (MMC). In addition, in contrast with curcumin, ATM-deficient cells are twofold more sensitive to EF24 than matched wild-type cells, consistent with a synthetic lethal effect between FA pathway inhibition and ATM deficiency. An independent screen identified 4H-TTD, a compound structurally related to EF24 that displays similar activity in egg extracts and in cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that monoketone analogs of curcumin are potent inhibitors of the FA pathway and constitute a promising new class of targeted anticancer compounds.</p

Coastal embayment rotation: Response to extreme events and climate control, using full embayment surveys

© 2018 The Authors Barrier beach change in directionally bi-modal wave climates presents an increasing challenge for coastal communities, both in the short-term (storm events), and decadal to centurial time scales (long-term evolution). Predicting and planning for subsequent variations requires understanding of the morphological response to changes in wave energy, along with the atmospheric forces driving the wave climate. In this paper, multi-method topo-bathymetric surveys are used to assess the morphological change of a semi-sheltered gravel barrier (Start Bay, Devon, UK). Total sediment budgets (supra- to sub-tidal), with spatially-varying uncertainty levels, indicate the embayment is closed. One third of total sediment flux occurred in the sub-tidal, establishing the importance of sub-tidal transport for this type of coastline. Our results demonstrate that under the predominance of a given wave direction, rotation first occurs within sub-embayments. Additional sustained and extreme energy levels are then required for full embayment rotation to occur, with significant headland bypassing. In this instance, 6 × 105 m3 of gravel was transported alongshore during a 3-year sustained period of dominant-southerly waves, including a 1:50 year storm season (full-embayment rotation), whilst 3 × 105 m3 was returned during a 2-year period of dominant easterly waves (sub-embayment rotation only). A novel parameter is introduced that predicts beach rotation based on the directional wave balance. In turn, winter wave direction is shown to correlate with a combination of two climate indices. Given adequate predictions of relevant climate indices, these findings constitute the basis of a generalisable method to predict and plan for future beach rotation on similar beaches globally

The climate sensitivity of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] in the southeastern European Alps

Tree ring chronologies were developed from trees growing at two sites in Slovenia which differed in their ecological and climatological characteristics. Ring width, maximum latewood density, annual height increment and latewood cellulose carbon isotope composition were developed at both sites and time-series verified against instrumental climate data over the period (AD 1960–AD 2002). Ring width sensitivity to summer temperature is site-dependent, with contrasting responses at alpine and lowland sites. Maximum density responds to September temperatures, suggesting lignification after cell division has ended for the season. Stable carbon isotopes have great potential, responding to summer temperature at oth alpine and lowland stands. Height increment appears relatively insensitive to climate, and is likely to be dominated by local stand dynamics