Metal-nonmetal transition in LixCoO2 thin film and thermopower enhancement at high Li concentration

We investigate the transport properties of LixCoO2 thin films whose resistivities are nearly an order of magnitude lower than those of the bulk polycrystals. A metal-nonmetal transition occurs at ~0.8 in a biphasic domain, and the Seebeck coefficient (S) is drastically increased at ~140 K (= T*) with increasing the Li concentration to show a peak of magnitude ~120 \muV/K in the S-T curve of x = 0.87. We show that T* corresponds to a crossover temperature in the conduction, most likely reflecting the correlation-induced temperature dependence in the low-energy excitations

Summer pruning for maintaining slender spindle bush type of peach trees grafted on vigorous rootstocks

The slender spindle bush type system is commonly used for compact-sized trees, especially grafted on dwarfing rootstocks. It is difficult to apply this system to trees grafted on vigorous rootstocks by winter pruning. Such practices only cause the trees to repeat imbalanced vegetative-oriented growth every year. Therefore, in the current work summer pruning was applied to slender spindle bush type of early maturing peach trees grafted on vigorous rootstocks. Three trials were conducted: summer shoot thinning, shoot heading back trials in the field and a shoot heading back and shading trial in the pot experiment. Summer shoot thinning reduced tree growth and recovered proper balance between vegetative and reproductive growth. The following season such shoot thinning enhanced bud burst and initial growth of new shoots but the final tree growth was less in the summer-pruned trees compared with winter-pruned trees. The fruit matured earlier and soluble solids content was greater and titratable acidity was lower in the summer-pruned trees. The summer shoot heading back trial revealed that it regenerates shoots, although they bear fewer flower buds compared with winter-pruned trees. Such heading back is effective to keep alive shoots and buds near the trunk in slender spindle bush type systems. Summer shoot heading back and shading experiments in the pot showed that shading reduced the number of regenerated shoots and flower bud formation and delayed flower blooming in the following year. Thus summer shoot thinning and heading back are applicable to early maturing peach cultivars grafted on vigorous rootstocks to maintain the slender spindle bush type because thinning favors reducing tree vigor and light penetration near the trunk, and heading back keeps alive shoots and buds near the trunk which otherwise weaken or die back due to apical dominance and/or shading

Projectile Δ\Delta Excitations in p(p,n)Nπp(p,n)N\pi Reactions

It has recently been proven from measurements of the spin-transfer coefficients $D_{xx}$ and $D_{zz}$ that there is a small but non-vanishing $\Delta S=0$ component $\sigma_{0}$, in the inclusive $p(p,n)N\pi\,$ reaction cross section $\sigma\,$. It is shown that the dominant part of the measured $\sigma_{0}$ can be explained in terms of the projectile $\Delta$ excitation mechanism. An estimate is further made of contributions to $\sigma_{0}$ from s-wave rescattering process. It is found that s-wave rescattering contribution is much smaller than the contribution coming from projectile $\Delta$ excitation mechanism. The addition of s-wave rescattering contribution to the dominant part, however, improves the fit to the data.Comment: 9 pages, Revtex, figures can be obtained upon reques

Update of High Resolution (e,e'K^+) Hypernuclear Spectroscopy at Jefferson Lab's Hall A

Updated results of the experiment E94-107 hypernuclear spectroscopy in Hall A of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab), are presented. The experiment provides high resolution spectra of excitation energy for 12B_\Lambda, 16N_\Lambda, and 9Li_\Lambda hypernuclei obtained by electroproduction of strangeness. A new theoretical calculation for 12B_\Lambda, final results for 16N_\Lambda, and discussion of the preliminary results of 9Li_\Lambda are reported.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, submitted to the proceedings of Hyp-X Conferenc

De novo Sequencing of Novel Mycoviruses From Fusarium sambucinum: An Attempt on Direct RNA Sequencing of Viral dsRNAs

An increasing number of viruses are continuously being found in a wide range of organisms, including fungi. Recent studies have revealed a wide viral diversity in microbes and a potential importance of these viruses in the natural environment. Although virus exploration has been accelerated by short-read, high-throughput sequencing (HTS), and viral de novo sequencing is still challenging because of several biological/molecular features such as micro-diversity and secondary structure of RNA genomes. This study conducted de novo sequencing of multiple double-stranded (ds) RNA (dsRNA) elements that were obtained from fungal viruses infecting two Fusarium sambucinum strains, FA1837 and FA2242, using conventional HTS and long-read direct RNA sequencing (DRS). De novo assembly of the read data from both technologies generated near-entire genomic sequence of the viruses, and the sequence homology search and phylogenetic analysis suggested that these represented novel species of the Hypoviridae, Totiviridae, and Mitoviridae families. However, the DRS-based consensus sequences contained numerous indel errors that differed from the HTS consensus sequences, and these errors hampered accurate open reading frame (ORF) prediction. Although with its present performance, the use of DRS is premature to determine viral genome sequences, the DRS-mediated sequencing shows great potential as a user-friendly platform for a one-shot, whole-genome sequencing of RNA viruses due to its long-reading ability and relative structure-tolerant nature

Histopathological diagnosis of Japanese spotted fever using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin biopsy specimens Usefulness of immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR analysis

AbstractJapanese spotted fever (JSF) is caused by Rickettsia japonica, and lethal cases are reported yearly in southwest Japan. We thus established the method of diagnosing JSF by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin biopsy specimens. Two monoclonal antibodies were used for IHC, and the 17k genus common antigen gene served as the target of RT-PCR. We collected skin biopsy (n = 61) and autopsy (n = 1) specimens from 50 patients clinically suspected of JSF. Immunohistochemically, the rickettsial antigens were localized as coarse dots in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells and macrophages. Thirty-one seropositive cases plus one autopsy case (group A) and nine seronegative cases but with positive IHC and/or RT-PCR (group B) were judged as JSF. Nine cases were regarded as non-JSF disorders based on negative serology, IHC and RT-PCR (group C). Of 50 biopsies (eschar 34, eruptions 10, and scabs 6) from groups A and B, IHC and RT-PCR positivities were 94% (32/34) and 62% (21/34) for eschar, 80% (8/10) and 30% (3/10) for eruptions, and 33% (2/6) and 50% (3/6) for scabs. For IHC, eschar was most suitable, and scabs were insufficient. Unexpectedly, 18 biopsies happened to be fixed in 100% formalin, and this lowered the detection rate by RT-PCR, but IHC was tolerant. Sequence analysis using five skin biopsy specimens confirmed a 114 bp DNA stretch homologous to that reported for the target gene of R. japonica. In 26 (84%) of the 31 seropositive patients, the diagnosis was made by IHC and/or RT-PCR earlier than serology

What have we learned from antiproton proton scattering?

From recent charge exchange measurements in the extreme forward direction, an independent and precise determination of the pion nucleon coupling constant is possible. This determination has reopened the debate on the value of this fundamental coupling constant of nuclear physics. Precise measurements of charge exchange observables at forward angles below 900 MeV/c would also give a better understanding of the long range part of the two-pion exchange potential. For example, the confirmation of the coherence of the tensor forces from the pion exchange and the isovector two-pion exchange would be very valuable. With the present data first attempts at an \NbarN partial wave analysis have been made where, as in nucleon nucleon scattering, the antinucleon nucleon high J partial waves are mainly given by one-pion exchange. Finally a recent \pbarp atomic cascade calculation and the fraction of P-state annihilation in gas targets is commented on.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, to be published in Nucl. Phy

Selective Chemokine Receptor Usage by Central Nervous System Myeloid Cells in CCR2-Red Fluorescent Protein Knock-In Mice

Background: Monocyte subpopulations distinguished by differential expression of chemokine receptors CCR2 and CX3CR1 are difficult to track in vivo, partly due to lack of CCR2 reagents. Methodology/Principal Findings: We created CCR2-red fluorescent protein (RFP) knock-in mice and crossed them with CX3CR1-GFP mice to investigate monocyte subset trafficking. In mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, CCR2 was critical for efficient intrathecal accumulation and localization of Ly6C hi /CCR2 hi monocytes. Surprisingly, neutrophils, not Ly6C lo monocytes, largely replaced Ly6C hi cells in the central nervous system of these mice. CCR2-RFP expression allowed the first unequivocal distinction between infiltrating monocytes/macrophages from resident microglia. Conclusion/Significance: These results refine the concept of monocyte subsets, provide mechanistic insight about monocyte entry into the central nervous system, and present a novel model for imaging and quantifying inflammatory myeloid populations