A novel long non-coding natural antisense RNA is a negative regulator of Nos1 gene expression

Long non-coding natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are widespread in eukaryotic species. Although recent studies indicate that long NATs are engaged in the regulation of gene expression, the precise functional roles of the vast majority of them are unknown. Here we report that a long NAT (Mm-antiNos1 RNA) complementary to mRNA encoding the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (Nos1) is expressed in the mouse brain and is transcribed from the non-template strand of the Nos1 locus. Nos1 produces nitric oxide (NO), a major signaling molecule in the CNS implicated in many important functions including neuronal differentiation and memory formation. We show that the newly discovered NAT negatively regulates Nos1 gene expression. Moreover, our quantitative studies of the temporal expression profiles of Mm-antiNos1 RNA in the mouse brain during embryonic development and postnatal life indicate that it may be involved in the regulation of NO-dependent neurogenesis

Landau damping in thin films irradiated by a strong laser field

The rate of linear collisionless damping (Landau damping) in a classical electron gas confined to a heated ionized thin film is calculated. The general expression for the imaginary part of the dielectric tensor in terms of the parameters of the single-particle self-consistent electron potential is obtained. For the case of a deep rectangular well, it is explicitly calculated as a function of the electron temperature in the two limiting cases of specular and diffuse reflection of the electrons from the boundary of the self-consistent potential. For realistic experimental parameters, the contribution of Landau damping to the heating of the electron subsystem is estimated. It is shown that for films with a thickness below about 100 nm and for moderate laser intensities it may be comparable with or even dominate over electron-ion collisions and inner ionization.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figure

Waveguide integrated superconducting single-photon detectors with high internal quantum efficiency at telecom wavelengths

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) provide high efficiency for detecting individual photons while keeping dark counts and timing jitter minimal. Besides superior detection performance over a broad optical bandwidth, compatibility with an integrated optical platform is a crucial requirement for applications in emerging quantum photonic technologies. Here we present SNSPDs embedded in nanophotonic integrated circuits which achieve internal quantum efficiencies close to unity at 1550 nm wavelength. This allows for the SNSPDs to be operated at bias currents far below the critical current where unwanted dark count events reach milli-Hz levels while on-chip detection efficiencies above 70% are maintained. The measured dark count rates correspond to noise-equivalent powers in the 10-19 W/Hz-1/2 range and the timing jitter is as low as 35 ps. Our detectors are fully scalable and interface directly with waveguide-based optical platforms

ВЛИЯНИЕ ТЕПЛОВОЙ РАБОТЫ ФУТЕРОВКИ ЭЛЕКТРОДУГОВЫХ ПЕЧЕЙ НА ЭНЕРГОПОТРЕБЛЕНИЕ

The paper presents an analysis of specific features of lining thermal performance in electric-arc furnaces at various technological periods. It has been  shown that on the basis of mathematical modeling methods for thermal processes it is possible to predict power consumption of furnaces at the operational split schedule with due account of such furnace characteristics as capacity, lining materials, furnace idle times under closed and open conditions etc. The paper shows distinctions in thermal performance of acid and the basic linings in the electric-arc furnaces. The proposed approach allows to analyze thermal losses by heat conductivity and on accumulation by a refractory lining and rather accurately to determine the required balance sheet items while calculating power consumption during various periods of scrap melting for furnaces of various capacity.Представлен анализ особенностей тепловой работы футеровки электродуговых печей в различные технологические периоды. Показано, что на основе методов математического моделирования тепловых процессов возможно прогнозировать энергопотребление печей при прерывистом графике работы с учетом таких характеристик печи, как емкость, материалы футеровки печи, время простоев печи в закрытом и открытом состояниях и т. д. Показаны различия в тепловой работе кислой и основной футеровок электродуговых печей. Представленный подход позволяет проанализировать тепловые потери теплопроводностью и на аккумуляцию кладкой и достаточно точно определять данные статьи баланса при расчете энергопотребления в разные периоды плавки для печей различной емкости

Electron-phonon scattering at the intersection of two Landau levels

We predict a double-resonant feature in the magnetic field dependence of the phonon-mediated longitudinal conductivity $\sigma_{xx}$ of a two-subband quasi-two-dimensional electron system in a quantizing magnetic field. The two sharp peaks in $\sigma_{xx}$ appear when the energy separation between two Landau levels belonging to different size-quantization subbands is favorable for acoustic-phonon transitions. One-phonon and two-phonon mechanisms of electron conductivity are calculated and mutually compared. The phonon-mediated interaction between the intersecting Landau levels is considered and no avoided crossing is found at thermal equilibrium.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure

Effect of processing by femtosecond pulsed laser on mechanical properties of submicrocrystalline titanium

Effect of femtosecond laser processing on mechanical properties of plates made of submicrocrystalline VT1-0 titanium alloy is studied using active deformation and fatigue testing involving cantilever bendin

Future of superheavy element research: Which nuclei could be synthesized within the next few years?

Low values of the fusion cross sections and very short half-lives of nuclei with Z$>$120 put obstacles in synthesis of new elements. Different nuclear reactions (fusion of stable and radioactive nuclei, multi-nucleon transfers and neutron capture), which could be used for the production of new isotopes of superheavy (SH) elements, are discussed in the paper. The gap of unknown SH nuclei, located between the isotopes which were produced earlier in the cold and hot fusion reactions, can be filled in fusion reactions of $^{48}$Ca with available lighter isotopes of Pu, Am, and Cm. Cross sections for the production of these nuclei are predicted to be rather large, and the corresponding experiments can be easily performed at existing facilities. For the first time, a narrow pathway is found to the middle of the island of stability owing to possible $\beta^+$-decay of SH isotopes which can be formed in ordinary fusion reactions of stable nuclei. Multi-nucleon transfer processes at near barrier collisions of heavy (and very heavy, U-like) ions are shown to be quite realistic reaction mechanism allowing us to produce new neutron enriched heavy nuclei located in the unexplored upper part of the nuclear map. Neutron capture reactions can be also used for the production of the long-living neutron rich SH nuclei. Strong neutron fluxes might be provided by pulsed nuclear reactors and by nuclear explosions in laboratory conditions and by supernova explosions in nature. All these possibilities are discussed in the paper.Comment: An Invited Plenary Talk given by Valeriy I. Zagrebaev at the 11th International Conference on Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (NN2012), San Antonio, Texas, USA, May 27-June 1, 2012. To appear in the NN2012 Proceedings in Journal of Physics: Conference Series (JPCS