Resolving the Axial Mass Anomaly in neutrino Scattering

We present a parametrization of the observed enhancement in the transverse electron quasielastic (QE) response function for nucleons bound in carbon as a function of the square of the four momentum transfer (Q2) in terms of a correction to the magnetic form factors of bound nucleons. The parametrization should also be applicable to the transverse cross section in neutrino scattering. If the transverse enhancement originates from meson exchange currents (MEC), then it is theoretically expected that any enhancement in the longitudinal or axial contributions is small. We present the predictions of the "Transverse Enhancement" model (which is based on electron scattering data only) for the neutrino and anti-neutrino differential and total QE cross sections for nucleons bound in carbon. The 2Q2 dependence of the transverse enhancement is observed to resolve much of the long standing discrepancy ("Axial Mass Anomaly}) in the QE total cross sections and differential distributions between low energy and high energy neutrino experiments on nuclear targets.Comment: 3 pages, 3 Figures, Presented by Arie Bodek at the 19th Particles and Nuclei International Conference, PANIC 2011, MIT, Cambridge, MA July 201

Interplay of Mre11 Nuclease with Dna2 plus Sgs1 in Rad51-Dependent Recombinational Repair

The Mre11/Rad50/Xrs2 complex initiates IR repair by binding to the end of a double-strand break, resulting in 5′ to 3′ exonuclease degradation creating a single-stranded 3′ overhang competent for strand invasion into the unbroken chromosome. The nuclease(s) involved are not well understood. Mre11 encodes a nuclease, but it has 3′ to 5′, rather than 5′ to 3′ activity. Furthermore, mutations that inactivate only the nuclease activity of Mre11 but not its other repair functions, mre11-D56N and mre11-H125N, are resistant to IR. This suggests that another nuclease can catalyze 5′ to 3′ degradation. One candidate nuclease that has not been tested to date because it is encoded by an essential gene is the Dna2 helicase/nuclease. We recently reported the ability to suppress the lethality of a dna2Δ with a pif1Δ. The dna2Δ pif1Δ mutant is IR-resistant. We have determined that dna2Δ pif1Δ mre11-D56N and dna2Δ pif1Δ mre11-H125N strains are equally as sensitive to IR as mre11Δ strains, suggesting that in the absence of Dna2, Mre11 nuclease carries out repair. The dna2Δ pif1Δ mre11-D56N triple mutant is complemented by plasmids expressing Mre11, Dna2 or dna2K1080E, a mutant with defective helicase and functional nuclease, demonstrating that the nuclease of Dna2 compensates for the absence of Mre11 nuclease in IR repair, presumably in 5′ to 3′ degradation at DSB ends. We further show that sgs1Δ mre11-H125N, but not sgs1Δ, is very sensitive to IR, implicating the Sgs1 helicase in the Dna2-mediated pathway

Ambiguities of neutrino(antineutrino) scattering on the nucleon due to the uncertainties of relevant strangeness form factors

Strange quark contributions to neutrino(antineutrino) scattering are investigated on the nucleon level in the quasi-elastic region. The incident energy range between 500 MeV and 1.0 GeV is used for the scattering. All of the physical observable by the scattering are investigated within available experimental and theoretical results for the strangeness form factors of the nucleon. In specific, a newly combined data of parity violating electron scattering and neutrino scattering is exploited. Feasible quantities to be explored for the strangeness contents are discussed for the application to neutrino-nucleus scattering.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, submit to J. Phys.

Acute and chronic effects of foam rolling vs eccentric exercise on ROM and force output of the plantar flexors

Foam rolling and eccentric exercise interventions have been demonstrated to improve range of motion (ROM). However, these two modalities have not been directly compared. Twenty-three academy soccer players (age: 18 ± 1; height: 1.74 ± 0.08 m; body mass: 69.3 ± 7.5 kg) were randomly allocated to either a foam rolling (FR) or eccentric exercise intervention designed to improve dorsiflexion ROM. Participants performed the intervention daily for a duration of four weeks. Measurements of dorsiflexion ROM, isometric plantar flexion torque and drop jump reactive strength index were taken at baseline (pre-intervention) and at three subsequent time-points (30-min post, 24-hours post and 4-weeks post). A significant time x group interaction effect was observed for dorsiflexion (P = 0.036), but not for torque or reactive strength index. For dorsiflexion, there was a significant increase in both acute (30-min; P < 0.001) and chronic (4-week; P < 0.001) ROM for the eccentric group, whilst FR exhibited only an acute improvement (P < 0.001). Eccentric training would appear a more efficacious modality than foam rolling for improving dorsiflexion ROM in elite academy soccer players

Exploiting thermally-reversible covalent bonds for the controlled release of microencapsulated isocyanate crosslinkers

The paper reports the successful synthesis of microcapsules that incorporate thermally-reversible Diels-Alder or oxime-urethane bonds within the polymer of the microcapsule shell using an interfacial polymerisation technique. The mechanical strength of these microcapsules was found to be dependent on the structure of the thermally-reversible functionality, thus allowing for the design of strong microcapsules that demonstrated excellent stability in one-pot PU formulations. Release of the encapsulated isocyanate crosslinkers using a thermal stimulus demonstrated the potential of this technology for use in the controlled polymerisation of one-pot PU systems

Floating stones off El Hierro, Canary Islands: xenoliths of pre-island sedimentary origin in the early products of the October 2011 eruption

The eruption that started off the south coast of El Hierro, Canary Islands, in October 2011 has emitted intriguing eruption products found floating in the sea. These specimens appeared as floating volcanic "bombs" that have in the meantime been termed "restingolites" (after the close-by village of La Restinga) and exhibit cores of white and porous pumice-like material. Currently the nature and origin of these "floating stones" is vigorously debated among researchers, with important implications for the interpretation of the hazard potential of the ongoing eruption. The "restingolites" have been proposed to be either (i) juvenile high-silica magma (e.g. rhyolite), (ii) remelted magmatic material (trachyte), (iii) altered volcanic rock, or (iv) reheated hyaloclastites or zeolite from the submarine slopes of El Hierro. Here, we provide evidence that supports yet a different conclusion. We have collected and analysed the structure and composition of samples and compared the results to previous work on similar rocks found in the archipelago. Based on their high silica content, the lack of igneous trace element signatures, and the presence of remnant quartz crystals, jasper fragments and carbonate relicts, we conclude that "restingolites" are in fact xenoliths from pre-island sedimentary rocks that were picked up and heated by the ascending magma causing them to partially melt and vesiculate. They hence represent messengers from depth that help us to understand the interaction between ascending magma and crustal lithologies in the Canary Islands as well as in similar Atlantic islands that rest on sediment/covered ocean crust (e.g. Cape Verdes, Azores). The occurrence of these "restingolites" does therefore not indicate the presence of an explosive high-silica magma that is involved in the ongoing eruption

Optical Sensor for Diverse Organic Vapors at ppm Concentration Ranges

A broadly responsive optical organic vapor sensor is described that responds to low concentrations of organic vapors without significant interference from water vapor. Responses to several classes of organic vapors are highlighted, and trends within classes are presented. The relationship between molecular properties (vapor pressure, boiling point, polarizability, and refractive index) and sensor response are discussed

Long-term effects of ocean temperature rise on the deep sea

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization operates a global International Monitoring System, with 11 hydroacoustic stations around the globe located in the deep-sea sound channel. Continuous measurements provide up to 20 years of sound pressures at frequencies of up to 100 Hz, depending on when each station was installed. These relatively long timescales allow investigating the effects of climate over that period. This presentation will show data from CTBT stations H11 (Wake Island, in the North Pacific) and H01 (Cape Leeuwin, in the Indian Ocean). Multiscale aggregations of 1-minute power spectral density (PSD) levels and sound energy measures over several days are used to show their correlation with sea surface temperature (SST) measurements at different timescales. In particular, we can detect seasonal changes in the SST as well as longer term climatic variations. The spectral analysis also shows periodic features in PSD levels around 15 to 31 Hz. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in 2014 that the increase in temperature has mostly affected the upper (0 - 700 m) ocean while assessing the impact of climate change in the deep sea (> 1000 m) is a challenging task due to the difficulty of gathering long-term comprehensive data. This link between sound pressure levels at 1-km depths and the surface temperature of the ocean is particularly important. Sound is an Essential Ocean Variable, and a key factor to better understand the Earth’s climate system