Measurement of CH3_3D on Titan at Submillimeter Wavelengths

We present the first radio/submillimeter detection of monodeuterated methane (CH$_3$D) in Titan's atmosphere, using archival data from of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The $J_K=2_1-1_1$ and $J_K=2_0-1_0$ transitions at 465.235 and 465.250 GHz ($\sim0.644$ mm) were measured at significance levels of $4.6\sigma$ and $5.7\sigma$, respectively. These two lines were modeled using the Non-linear optimal Estimator for MultivariatE spectral analySIS (NEMESIS) radiative transfer code to determine the disk-averaged CH$_3$D volume mixing ratio = $6.157\times10^{-6}$ in Titan's stratosphere (at altitudes $\gt130$ km). By comparison with the CH$_4$ vertical abundance profile measured by Cassini-Huygens mass spectrometry, the resulting value for D/H in CH$_4$ is $(1.033\pm0.081)\times10^{-4}$. This is consistent with previous ground-based and in-situ measurements from the Cassini-Huygens mission, though slightly lower than the average of the previous values. Additional CH$_3$D observations at higher spatial resolution will be required to determine a value truly comparable with the Cassini-Huygens CH$_4$ measurements, by measuring CH$_3$D with ALMA close to Titan's equator. In the post-Cassini era, spatially resolved observations of CH$_3$D with ALMA will enable the latitudinal distribution of methane to be determined, making this an important molecule for further studies.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Do Neural Factors Underlie Age Differences in Rapid Ankle Torque Development?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111232/1/j.1532-5415.1996.tb03737.x.pd

Integration der Maker Education in die Lehramtsausbildung – das Digitallabor der Universität Osnabrück

Der folgende Beitrag stellt das Konzept eines universitätsweiten Digitallabors der Universität Osnabrück vor, das in seinem Aufbau an Makerspaces und Fablabs angelehnt ist, insbesondere Lehramtsstudierende bei der Entwicklung von Digitalkompetenz fördert und Impulse für die Verwirklichung innovativer Lehr- und Lernsettings liefert. Es handelt sich um einen offenen Lernort mit mehreren Räumen für selbstorganisiertes Lernen, z. B. einem Maschinenpark sowie Podcast- und Videostudios. Da in Bezug auf Kompetenzentwicklungsmodelle, die die Anbahnung von Digitalkompetenz bei angehenden Lehrer:innen modellieren, eine Forschungslücke besteht, werden derzeit auf Basis von DigComp und DigCompEdu curriculare und extracurriculare Angebote im Digitallabor konzipiert, die der Zielgruppe den intrinsisch motivierten Zugang und das Entwickeln eines sich durch Digitalkompetenz auszeichnenden Profils ermöglichen sollen. Parallel zum Lernen vor Ort vermitteln praxisvorbereitende extracurriculare Online-Selbstlernmodule grundlegendes Technikwissen, wie am Beispiel des 3D-Drucks gezeigt wird. Der curriculare Ansatz basiert auf einem didaktischen Methodenmix inkl. eines E-Portfolios. Die Lernbegleiter:innen schaffen in Anlehnung an das Cognitive Apprenticeship-Modell einen geeigneten Rahmen, um authentische Probleme mit Lebensweltbezug im Sinne situierten Lernens abzubilden und intrinsische Motivation zu erzeugen. Ziel des Digitallabors ist es, so die Anbahnung von Digitalkompetenz in die Erfahrungswelt der Lernenden zu implementieren und Transferprozesse für spätere Herausforderungen anzustossen

Vertical Scanning Interferometry for Label-Free Detection of Peptide-Antibody Interactions

Peptide microarrays are a fast-developing field enabling the mapping of linear epitopes in the immune response to vaccinations or diseases and high throughput studying of protein-protein interactions. In this respect, a rapid label-free measurement of protein layer topographies in the array format is of great interest but is also a great challenge due to the extremely low aspect ratios of the peptide spots. We have demonstrated the potential of vertical scanning interferometry (VSI) for a detailed morphological analysis of peptide arrays and binding antibodies. The VSI technique is shown to scan an array area of 5.1 square millimeters within 3–4 min at a resolution of 1.4 μm lateral and 0.1 nm vertical in the full automation mode. Topographies obtained by VSI do match the one obtained by AFM measurements, demonstrating the accuracy of the technique. A detailed topology of peptide-antibody layers on single spots was measured. Two different measurement regions are distinguished according to the antibody concentration. In the case of weakly diluted serum, the thickness of the antibody layer is independent of the serum dilution and corresponds to the physical thickness of the accumulated antibody layer. In strongly diluted serum, the thickness measured via VSI is linearly proportional to the serum dilution

Phase Behavior of a Block Copolymer/Salt Mixture through the Order-to-Disorder Transition

Mixtures of block copolymers and lithium salts are promising candidates for lithium battery electrolytes. Structural changes that occur during the order-to-disorder transition (ODT) in a diblock copolymer/salt mixture were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). In salt-free block copolymers, the ODT is sharp, and the domain size of the ordered phase decreases with increasing temperature. In contrast, the ODT of the diblock copolymer/salt mixture examined here occurs gradually over an 11 °C temperature window, and the domain size of the ordered phase is a nonmonotonic function of temperature. We present an approach to estimate the fraction of the ordered phase in the 11 °C window where ordered and disordered phases coexist. The domain spacing of the ordered phase increases with increasing temperature in the coexistence window. Both findings are consistent with the selective partitioning of salt into the ordered domains, as predicted by Nakamura et al. ( ACS Macro Lett. 2013, 2, 478−481)

A Europa CubeSat Concept Study for Measuring Europa\u27s Atmosphere

This presentation is the product of a nine-month mission concept study for a CubeSat that would be carried aboard the JPL Europa Multiple-Flyby Mission, released in the Jovian system and make measurements at Europa. We examined the scientific return as well as the technical feasibility of a CubeSat designed to study the linkage between Europa\u27s radiation environment which generates Europa\u27s atmosphere through sputtering and radiolytic processes, and its atmospheric structure. This would be accomplished by measuring a) energetic particles at Europa and b) its atmospheric density through drag forces on the CubeSat. The findings of our concept study for the Deployable Atmospheric Reconnaissance CubeSat with Sputtering Ion Detector at Europa (DARCSIDE) indicate that the technology exists to enable a 3U, 4.4 kg CubeSat to detect Europa\u27s tenuous atmosphere beginning ~200 km above the surface for ~400 s of flight time during a single flyby, by measuring drag on the vehicle. By including a charged particle detector, we can also measure the sputtering-induced charged particle flux incident on Europa\u27s surface - either for a single arc across the surface or for a number of predeployment Jovian orbits while onboard the Europa Multiple-Flyby Mission - depending on the length of time the instrument is powered on. In addition to providing highly complementary science to the Europa Multiple-Flyby Mission, the combination of the accelerometer and charged particle detector will yield important insights for the study of Europa\u27s atmosphere and surface composition, its interaction with the Jovian magnetosphere, and possibly links to its subsurface ocean. This presentation will be focused on the technical challenges of the DARCSIDE mission. The major challenges to be discussed will include how to survive with only one twenty-fifth the energy available at the Earth, this has significant implications for spacecraft temperature and electrical power generation. Additionally, survival in the extreme Jovian radiation environment will be discussed, along how to meet planetary protection requirements for Europa, which requires DARCSIDE to never impact Europa. Finally, the design for the DARCSIDE drag system, and accelerometers will be discussed

Estimation of muscle activation during different walking speeds with two mathematical approaches compared to surface EMG

Background Muscle force estimation could improve clinical gait analysis by enhancing insight into causes of impairments and informing targeted treatments. However, it is not currently standard practice to use muscle force models to augment clinical gait analysis, partly, because robust validations of estimated muscle activations, underpinning force modelling processes, against recorded electromyography (EMG) are lacking. Research Question Therefore, in order to facilitate future clinical use, this study sought to validate estimated lower limb muscle activation using two mathematical models (static optimisation SO, computed muscle control CMC) against recorded muscle activations of ten healthy participants. Methods Participants walked at five speeds. Visual agreement in activation onset and offset as well as linear correlation (r) and mean absolute error (MAE) between models and EMG were evaluated. Results MAE between measured and recorded activations were variable across speeds (SO vs EMG 15–68%, CMC vs EMG 13–69%). Slower speeds resulted in smaller deviations (mean MAE < 30%) than faster speeds. Correlation was high (r > 0.5) for only 11/40 (CMC) and 6/40 (SO) conditions (muscles X speeds) compared to EMG. Significance Modelling approaches do not yet show sufficient consistency of agreement between estimated and recorded muscle activation to support recommending immediate clinical adoption of muscle force modelling. This may be because assumptions underlying muscle activation estimations (e.g. muscles’ anatomy and maximum voluntary contraction) are not yet sufficiently individualizable. Future research needs to find timely and cost efficient ways to scale musculoskeletal models for better individualisation to facilitate future clinical implementation

Detection of Cyclopropenylidene on Titan with ALMA

We report the first detection on Titan of the small cyclic molecule cyclopropenylidene (c-C3H2) from high-sensitivity spectroscopic observations made with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. Multiple lines of cyclopropenylidene were detected in two separate data sets: ~251 GHz in 2016 (Band 6) and ~352 GHz in 2017 (Band 7). Modeling of these emissions indicates abundances of 0.50 ± 0.14 ppb (2016) and 0.28 ± 0.08 (2017) for a 350 km step model, which may either signify a decrease in abundance, or a mean value of 0.33 ± 0.07 ppb. Inferred column abundances are (3–5) × 1012 cm−2 in 2016 and (1–2) × 1012 cm−2 in 2017, similar to photochemical model predictions. Previously the C3H${}_{3}^{+}$ ion has been measured in Titan's ionosphere by Cassini's Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS), but the neutral (unprotonated) species has not been detected until now, and aromatic versus aliphatic structure could not be determined by the INMS. Our work therefore represents the first unambiguous detection of cyclopropenylidene, the second known cyclic molecule in Titan's atmosphere along with benzene (C6H6) and the first time this molecule has been detected in a planetary atmosphere. We also searched for the N-heterocycle molecules pyridine and pyrimidine finding nondetections in both cases, and determining 2σ upper limits of 1.15 ppb (c-C5H5N) and 0.85 ppb (c-C4H4N2) for uniform abundances above 300 km. These new results on cyclic molecules provide fresh constraints on photochemical pathways in Titan's atmosphere, and will require new modeling and experimental work to fully understand the implications for complex molecule formation

Carbon partitioning between oil and carbohydrates in developing oat (Avena sativa L.) seeds

Cereals accumulate starch in the endosperm as their major energy reserve in the grain. In most cereals the embryo, scutellum, and aleurone layer are high in oil, but these tissues constitute a very small part of the total seed weight. However, in oat (Avena sativa L.) most of the oil in kernels is deposited in the same endosperm cells that accumulate starch. Thus oat endosperm is a desirable model system to study the metabolic switches responsible for carbon partitioning between oil and starch synthesis. A prerequisite for such investigations is the development of an experimental system for oat that allows for metabolic flux analysis using stable and radioactive isotope labelling. An in vitro liquid culture system, developed for detached oat panicles and optimized to mimic kernel composition during different developmental stages in planta, is presented here. This system was subsequently used in analyses of carbon partitioning between lipids and carbohydrates by the administration of 14C-labelled sucrose to two cultivars having different amounts of kernel oil. The data presented in this study clearly show that a higher amount of oil in the high-oil cultivar compared with the medium-oil cultivar was due to a higher proportion of carbon partitioning into oil during seed filling, predominantly at the earlier stages of kernel development

Solid-material-based Coupling Efficiency Analyzed with Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

The coupling behavior of a microparticle embedded amino acid active-ester into a Poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate-film, synthesized onto a silicon wafer by a grafting from approach, is characterized using dynamic time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to analyze the 3d distribution of the amino acids in the polymer film. Besides standard solid phase peptide synthesis, employing solubilized amino acids in a solvent, we used solid polymer microparticles, incorporating the amino acids. These microparticles were especially designed for a new technique to produce high-density combinatorial peptide microarrays: upon heating, the particles become viscous, which releases the embedded amino acids to diffuse and couple to the surface. In the scope of the development of this new particle-based application, ToF-SIMS is used to analyze a complex chemically modified polymer surface layer. Due to depth profile measurements, it is possible to investigate the particle-based coupling reaction not only on the surface, but also into the depth of the PEGMA film