16,253 research outputs found
Expression of Interest ICES/KIS-3 : Thema 4: Hoogwaardig Ruimtegebruik Speerpunt 6
Hoofddoel van dit speerpunt is om zowel de Nederlandse overheid als het bedrijfsleven uit te rusten met een operationele kennisinfrastructuur die toegesneden is op de relatie tussen (antropogene en natuurlijke) klimaatverandering en meervoudig ruimtegebrui
An observational test of common-envelope evolution
By analysing and modelling the change in the abundance ratio of
C/C and O/O on the surface of the lower mass star
of a binary during the common-envelope (CE) phase of evolution, we propose a
simple observational test of the CE scenario. The test is based on the infrared
measurement of either the C/C or O/O ratio of red
dwarfs in post-common envelope binaries (PCEB's). In certain cases
(main-sequence red dwarf secondaries in PCEB's without planetary nebulae), as
well as determining whether or not accretion has occurred during the CE phase,
we can determine the amount of mass accreted during the CE phase and hence the
initial mass of the red dwarf component prior to the CE phase. In the other
cases considered (low-mass red dwarfs in PCEB's and red dwarf's in PCEB's with
planetary nebulae) we can only say whether or not accretion has occurred during
the CE phase.Comment: uuencoded compressed postscript. The preprint are also available at
URL http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/preprint/PrePrint.htm
Immunological Characterization and Neutralizing Ability of Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against Botulinum Neurotoxin Type H.
BackgroundOnly Clostridium botulinum strain IBCA10-7060 produces the recently described novel botulinum neurotoxin type H (BoNT/H). BoNT/H (N-terminal two-thirds most homologous to BoNT/F and C-terminal one-third most homologous to BoNT/A) requires antitoxin to toxin ratios ≥1190:1 for neutralization by existing antitoxins. Hence, more potent and safer antitoxins against BoNT/H are needed.MethodsWe therefore evaluated our existing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to BoNT/A and BoNT/F for BoNT/H binding, created yeast-displayed mutants to select for higher-affinity-binding mAbs by using flow cytometry, and evaluated the mAbs' ability to neutralize BoNT/H in the standard mouse bioassay.ResultsAnti-BoNT/A HCC-binding mAbs RAZ1 and CR2 bound BoNT/H with high affinity. However, only 1 of 6 BoNT/F mAbs (4E17.2A) bound BoNT/H but with an affinity >800-fold lower (equilibrium dissociation binding constant [KD] = 7.56 × 10(-8)M) than its BoNT/F affinity (KD= 9.1 × 10(-11)M), indicating that the N-terminal two-thirds of BoNT/H is immunologically unique. The affinity of 4E17.2A for BoNT/H was increased >500-fold to KD= 1.48 × 10(-10)M (mAb 4E17.2D). A combination of mAbs RAZ1, CR2, and 4E17.2D completely protected mice challenged with 280 mouse median lethal doses of BoNT/H at a mAb dose as low as 5 µg of total antibody.ConclusionsThis 3-mAb combination potently neutralized BoNT/H and represents a potential human antitoxin that could be developed for the prevention and treatment of type H botulism
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Superconducting undulators with variable polarization and enhanced spectral range
A concept utilizing superconducting magnets for variable polarization insertion devices is presented. The iron-free design enables full variable linear and elliptical polarization over a broad spectral range. With appropriate electrical switching the same device can access higher energies through period-halving, while continuing to provide variable-linear polarization; furthermore, separate switching will allow for period-doubling with full linear and elliptical polarization control. The performance, both in terms of field/spectral performance and in terms of polarization control, is compared to existing permanent magnet EPU devices. Engineering issues associated with the fabrication and implementation of the device are discussed
The economic optimisation of the main parameters of the 3-GeV electron booster synchrotron for DIAMOND
Knot undulator to generate linearly polarized photons with low on-axis power density
Heat load on beamline optics is a serious problem to generate pure linearly
polarized photons in the third generation synchrotron radiation facilities. For
permanent magnet undulators, this problem can be overcome by a figure-8
operating mode. But there is still no good method to tackle this problem for
electromagnetic elliptical undulators. Here, a novel operating mode is
suggested, which can generate pure linearly polarized photons with very low
on-axis heat load. Also the available minimum photon energy of linearly
polarized photons can be extended much by this method
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