First Observation of Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission in a Free-Electron Laser at 109 nm Wavelength

We present the first observation of Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission (SASE) in a free-electron laser (FEL) in the Vacuum Ultraviolet regime at 109 nm wavelength (11 eV). The observed free-electron laser gain (approx. 3000) and the radiation characteristics, such as dependency on bunch charge, angular distribution, spectral width and intensity fluctuations all corroborate the existing models for SASE FELs.Comment: 6 pages including 6 figures; e-mail: [email protected]

Molecular Insights into Reprogramming-Initiation Events Mediated by the OSKM Gene Regulatory Network

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells by over-expression of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC (OSKM). With the aim of unveiling the early mechanisms underlying the induction of pluripotency, we have analyzed transcriptional profiles at 24, 48 and 72 hours post-transduction of OSKM into human foreskin fibroblasts. Experiments confirmed that upon viral transduction, the immediate response is innate immunity, which induces free radical generation, oxidative DNA damage, p53 activation, senescence, and apoptosis, ultimately leading to a reduction in the reprogramming efficiency. Conversely, nucleofection of OSKM plasmids does not elicit the same cellular stress, suggesting viral response as an early reprogramming roadblock. Additional initiation events include the activation of surface markers associated with pluripotency and the suppression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, reconstruction of an OSKM interaction network highlights intermediate path nodes as candidates for improvement intervention. Overall, the results suggest three strategies to improve reprogramming efficiency employing: 1) anti-inflammatory modulation of innate immune response, 2) pre-selection of cells expressing pluripotency-associated surface antigens, 3) activation of specific interaction paths that amplify the pluripotency signal

High-Grade Crystalline Basement of the Northwestern Wilson Terrane at Oates Coast: New Petrological and Geochronological Data and Implications for Its Tectonometamorphic Evolution

The high-grade basement of the northwestern Wilson Terrane at Oates Coast is subdivided into three roughly north-south trending zones on the basis of tectonic thrusting and differences in metamorphic petrology. New results of detailed petrological investigations show that metamorphic rocks of the central zone were formed in course of one single, clockwise directed P-T evolution including a medium-pressure and high-temperature granulite-facies stage at about 8 kbar and >800° C, a subsequent isothermal decompression and a final stage with retrograde formation of biotite + muscovite gneisses. In the eastern and western zones the majority of metamorphic rocks experienced clockwise oriented metamorphism at somewhat lower P-T conditions of about 4-5.5 kbar and 700-800°C. While some rocks in both zones did not reach the upper stability limit of muscovite + quartz, granulite-facies rocks detected in parts of the western zone were formed under P-T conditions similar to those of the central zone. New SHRIMP data support an age for the metamorphic peak of 496-500 Ma in the central zone (Henjes-Kunst et al., 2004). 40Ar-39Ar dating of amphiboles and micas indicate a general trend to younger ages from the west to the east of the basement complex, i.e. from 488-486 Ma to 472-469 Ma for amphiboles and from 484-482 Ma to 466 Ma for micas. This is explained by temporal differences in the retrograde metamorphic evolution of the three zones in the course of the late-Ross-orogenic thrust-related uplift of the basement complex, with the western zone being exhumed earlier than the eastern zone

Design and characterization of permanent magnetic solenoids for REGAE

REGAE is a small electron linear accelerator at DESY. In order to focus short and low charged electron bunches down to a few μm permanent magnetic solenoids were designed, assembled and field measurements were done. Due to a shortage of space close to the operation area an in-vacuum solution has been chosen. Furthermore a two-ring design made of wedges has been preferred in terms of beam dynamic issues. To keep the field quality of a piecewise built magnet still high a sorting algorithm for the wedge arrangement including a simple magnetic field model has been developed and used for the construction of the magnets. The magnetic field of these solenoids has been measured with high precision and compared to simulations

High-grade crystalline basement of the northwestern Wilson Terrane at Oates Coast: new petrological and geochronological data and implications for its tectonometamorphic evolution

The high-grade basement of the northwestern Wilson Terrane at Oates Coast is subdivided into three roughly north-south trending zones on the basis of tectonic thrusting and differences in metamorphic petrology. New results of detailed petrological investigations show that metamorphic rocks of the central zone were formed in course of one single, clockwise directed P-T evolution including a medium-pressure and high-temperature granulite-facies stage at about 8 kbar and >800° C, a subsequent isothermal decompression and a final stage with retrograde formation of biotite + muscovite gneisses. In the eastern and western zones the majority of metamorphic rocks experienced clockwise oriented metamorphism at somewhat lower P-T conditions of about 4-5.5 kbar and 700-800°C. While some rocks in both zones did not reach the upper stability limit of muscovite + quartz, granulite-facies rocks detected in parts of the western zone were formed under P-T conditions similar to those of the central zone. New SHRIMP data support an age for the metamorphic peak of 496-500 Ma in the central zone (Henjes-Kunst et al., 2004). 40Ar-39Ar dating of amphiboles and micas indicate a general trend to younger ages from the west to the east of the basement complex, i.e. from 488-486 Ma to 472-469 Ma for amphiboles and from 484-482 Ma to 466 Ma for micas. This is explained by temporal differences in the retrograde metamorphic evolution of the three zones in the course of the late-Ross-orogenic thrust-related uplift of the basement complex, with the western zone being exhumed earlier than the eastern zone

FGFR2 mutation in a patient without typical features of Pfeiffer syndrome--The emerging role of combined NGS and phenotype based strategies

Pfeiffer syndrome (MIM: #101600) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder classically characterized by limb and craniofacial anomalies. It is caused by heterozygous mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptors types 1 and 2 (FGFR1 and FGFR2). We applied a next generation sequencing (NGS) panel approach comprising all 2877 genes currently known to be causative for one or more Mendelian diseases combined with the phenotype based computational tool PhenIX (Phenotypic Interpretation of eXomes). We report on a patient presenting with multiple anomalies of hands and feet including brachydactyly and symphalangism. No clinical diagnosis could be established based on the clinical findings and testing of several genes associated with brachydactyly and symphalangism failed to identify mutations. Via next generation sequencing (NGS) panel approach we then identified a novel de novo missense FGFR2 mutation affecting an amino acid reported to be mutated in Pfeiffer syndrome. Since our patient shows typical radiological findings of Pfeiffer syndrome in hands and feet but at the same time lacks several characteristic features such as clinical signs of craniosynostosis and prominent eyes we suggest introducing the term "FGFR2 associated phenotypes" for similar cases. Our results highlight the emerging role of combined NGS and phenotype based bioinformatics strategies to establish clinical diagnoses

Geology: Development of the early Paleozoic Pacific margin of Gondwana from detrital-zircon ages across the Delamerian Orogen.

ABSTRACT Detrital-zircon age spectra have been determined for sedimentary rocks from the Delamerian orogen, southern Australia. In Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks, patterns progressively change from Mesoproterozoic-to Neoproterozoic-dominated detritus and there are few zircons that are close to the depositional age. The base of the Cambrian Kanmantoo Group marks an abrupt change in provenance to detrital patterns dominated by Ross and Delamerian (600-500 Ma) and Grenvillean ages (1200-1000 Ma). These patterns are strikingly similar to those obtained from Lachlan fold belt sedimentary rocks, indicating that the sedimentation recorded in the Kanmantoo Group marks a change from deposition of sediments derived from the Australian cratons to those representative of the early Paleozoic Gondwana mudpile. If sedimentary rocks with zircon-provenance characteristics such as those of the Kanmantoo rocks extend under elements of the Lachlan fold belt, they would provide suitable protoliths for the S-type granites of southeastern Australia

Start-to-end simulations of SASE FEL at the TESLA Test Facility, phase 1

Phase 1 of the vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) free-electron laser (FEL) at the TESLA Test Facility (TTF) recently concluded operation. It successfully demonstrated the saturation of a SASE FEL in the in the wavelength range of 80-120 nm. We present a posteriori start-to-end numerical simulations of this FEL. These simulations are based on the programs Astra and elegant for the generation and transport of the electron distribution. An independent simulation of the intricate beam dynamics in the magnetic bunch compressor is performed with the program CSRtrack. The SASE FEL process is simulated with the code FAST. From our detailed simulations and the resulting phase space distribution at the undulator entrance, we found that the FEL was driven only by a small fraction (slice) of the electron bunch. This "lasing slice" is located in the head of the bunch, and has a peak current of approximately 3 kA. A strong energy chirp (due to the space charge field after compression) within this slice had a significant influence on the FEL operation. Our study shows that the radiation pulse duration is about 40 fs (FWHM) with a corresponding peak power of 1.5 GW. The simulated FEL properties are compared with various experimental data and found to be in excellent agreement.Comment: 25 pages, 19 figure