Imaging dielectric relaxation in nanostructured polymers by frequency modulation electrostatic force microscopy

We have developed a method for imaging the temperature-frequency dependence of the dynamics of nanostructured polymer films with spatial resolution. This method provides images with dielectric compositional contrast well decoupled from topography. Using frequency-modulation electrostatic-force-microscopy, we probe the local frequency-dependent (0.1–100 Hz) dielectric response through measurement of the amplitude and phase of the force gradient in response to an oscillating applied electric field. When the phase is imaged at fixed frequency, it reveals the spatial variation in dielectric losses, i.e., the spatial variation in molecular/dipolar dynamics, with 40 nm lateral resolution. This is demonstrated by using as a model system; a phase separated polystyrene/polyvinyl-acetate (PVAc) blend. We show that nanoscale dynamic domains of PVAc are clearly identifiable in phase images as those which light-up in a band of temperature, reflecting the variations in the molecular/dipolar dynamics approaching the glass transition temperature of PVAc

Occurrence of a Synchronous Hermaphroditic Striped Mullet, Mugil cephalus, from the Northern Gulf of Mexico

A synchronous hermaphroditic striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, was captured offshore of Southwest Pass, Louisiana on 6 December 1996 during the commercial roe mullet fishery harvest. The fish measured 412 mm FL, weighed 824 g and was determined to be 4 years old by otolith analysis. Gross examination of the gonads revealed four lobes: right and left ovaries and right and left testis which represents a unique occurrence among hermaphroditic fish. All lobes ended in a common sperm duct/oviduct with the exception of the left ovary which had no oviduct. Both ovaries contained vitellogenic oocytes and both testis had freely running spermatozoa. Histological examination showed many oocytes undergoing final oocyte maturation, the presence of some post ovulatory follicles and lobules full of tailed spermatozoa. There was no evidence of the intermingling of sperm and oocytes within the gonad. The capture of this fish on the spawning grounds and the advanced stage of both ovarian and testicular development suggests spawning probably would involve the release of both oocytes and spermatozoa

From Stellar Halos to Intracluster Light: the physics of the Intra-Halo Stellar Component in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations

We study the Intra-Halo Stellar Component (IHSC) of Milky Way-mass systems up to galaxy clusters in the Horizon-AGN cosmological hydrodynamical simulation. We identify the IHSC using an improved phase-space galaxy finder algorithm which provides an adaptive, physically motivated and shape-independent definition of this stellar component, that can be applied to halos of arbitrary masses. We explore the IHSC mass fraction-total halo's stellar mass, $f_{M*,IHSC}-M*$, relation and the physical drivers of its scatter. We find that on average the $f_{M*,IHSC}$ increases with $M_{*,tot}$, with the scatter decreasing strongly with mass from 2 dex at $M_{*,tot}\sim10^{11}M_\odot$ to 0.3 dex at group masses. At high masses, $M_{*,tot}>10^{11.5}M_\odot$, $f_{M*,IHSC}$ increases with the number of substructures, and with the mass ratio between the central galaxy and largest satellite, at fixed $M_{*,tot}$. From mid-size groups and systems below $M_{*,tot}<10^{12}M_\odot$, we find that the central galaxy's stellar rotation-to-dispersion velocity ratio, V/{\sigma}, displays the strongest (anti)-correlation with $f_{M*,IHSC}$ at fixed $M_{*,tot}$ of all the galaxy and halo properties explored, transitioning from $f_{M*,IHSC}$<0.1% for high V/{\sigma}, to $f_{M*,IHSC}\sim5$% for low V/{\sigma} galaxies. By studying the $f_{M*,IHSC}$ temporal evolution, we find that, in the former, mergers not always take place, but if they did, they happened early (z>1), while the high $f_{M*,IHSC}$ population displays a much more active merger history. In the case of massive groups and galaxy clusters, $M_{*,tot}>10^{12}M_\odot$, a fraction $f_{M*,IHSC}\sim$10-20% is reached at $z\sim1$ and then they evolve across lines of constant $f_{M*,IHSC}$ modulo some small perturbations. Because of the limited simulation's volume, the latter is only tentative and requires a larger sample of simulated galaxy clusters to confirm.Comment: 21 pages, 17 figures. Submitted to MNRAS. Comments are welcome

Creating and Completing Service-Learning within Medical School Curricula: From the Learner’s Perspective

Background: This article describes a service-learning project implemented at local free clinics by students at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and identifies key factors in their success. Methods: In response to a lack of longitudinal patient-physician relationships at free clinics, the students developed an initiative linking free clinic patients with diabetes to primary care homes for longitudinal care and counseled patients on the benefits of establishing a longitudinal relationship with a primary care physician. Results: All patients counseled were linked, compared to a historical 10% linkage rate, and 78% of patients scheduling initial appointments. Five factors were identified and listed by the students as key to the project’s process, success, and impact. Conclusion: Although all of these listed factors may prove difficult to replicate, this case-study serves as a model for other medical schools incorporating service-learning and exhibits that medical students can become integral portions of healthcare infrastructure

Development of a PbWO4 Detector for Single-Shot Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy at the GBAR Experiment

We have developed a PbWO4 (PWO) detector with a large dynamic range to measure the intensity of a positron beam and the absolute density of the ortho-positronium (o-Ps) cloud it creates. A simulation study shows that a setup based on such detectors may be used to determine the angular distribution of the emission and reflection of o-Ps to reduce part of the uncertainties of the measurement. These will allow to improve the precision in the measurement of the cross-section for the (anti)hydrogen formation by (anti)proton-positronium charge exchange and to optimize the yield of antihydrogen ion which is an essential parameter in the GBAR experiment

North American precipitation isotope (δ18O) zones revealed in time series modeling across Canada and northern United States

Delineating spatial patterns of precipitation isotopes ("isoscapes") is becoming increasingly important to understand the processes governing the modern water isotope cycle and their application to migration forensics, climate proxy interpretation, and ecohydrology of terrestrial systems. However, the extent to which these patterns can be empirically predicted across Canada and the northern United States has not been fully articulated, in part due to a lack of time series precipitation isotope data for major regions of North America. In this study, we use multiple linear regressions of CNIP, GNIP, and USNIP observations alongside climatological variables, teleconnection indices, and geographic indicators to create empirical models that predict the δ18O of monthly precipitation (δ18Oppt) across Canada and the northern United States. Five regionalization approaches are used to separate the study domain into isotope zones to explore the effect of spatial grouping on model performance. Stepwise regression-derived parameterizations quantified by permutation testing indicate the significance of precipitable water content and latitude as predictor variables. Within the Canadian Arctic and eastern portion of the study domain, models from all regionalizations capture the interannual and intraannual variability of δ18Oppt. The Pacific coast and northwestern portions of the study domain show less agreement between models and poorer model performance, resulting in higher uncertainty in simulations throughout these regions. Long-term annual average δ18Oppt isoscapes are generated, highlighting the uncertainty in the regionalization approach as it compounds over time. Additionally, monthly time series simulations are presented at various locations, and model structure uncertainty and 90% bootstrapped prediction bounds are detailed for these predictions. Key Points: Empirical models are developed to simulate 18O of monthly precipitation Precipitable water content describes the most variance in precipitation 18O Uncertainty in modeling monthly and long-term precipitation 18O is assesse

Intermolecular charge transfer enhances the performance of molecular rectifiers

Molecular-scale diodes made from self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) could complement silicon-based technologies with smaller, cheaper, and more versatile devices. However, advancement of this emerging technology is limited by insufficient electronic performance exhibited by the molecular current rectifiers. We overcome this barrier by exploiting the charge-transfer state that results from co-assembling SAMs of molecules with strong electron donor and acceptor termini. We obtain a substantial enhancement in current rectification, which correlates with the degree of charge transfer, as confirmed by several complementary techniques. These findings provide a previously enexplored method for manipulating the properties of molecular electronic devices by exploiting donor/acceptor interactions. They also serve as a model test platform for the study of doping mechanisms in organic systems. Our devices have the potential for fast widespread adoption due to their low-cost processing and self-assembly onto silicon substrates, which could allow seamless integration with current technologies

Unique determination of “subatomic” contrast by imaging covalent backbonding

The origin of so-called “subatomic” resolution in dynamic force microscopy has remained controversial since its first observation in 2000. A number of detailed experimental and theoretical studies have identified different possible physicochemical mechanisms potentially giving rise to subatomic contrast. In this study, for the first time we are able to assign the origin of a specific instance of subatomic contrast as being due to the back bonding of a surface atom in the tip−sample junction

Correlations of Behavioral Deficits with Brain Pathology Assessed through Longitudinal MRI and Histopathology in the R6/2 Mouse Model of HD

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The R6/2 mouse model of HD expresses a mutant version of exon 1 HTT and develops motor and cognitive impairments, a widespread huntingtin (HTT) aggregate pathology and brain atrophy. Despite the vast number of studies that have been performed on this model, the association between the molecular and cellular neuropathology with brain atrophy, and with the development of behavioral phenotypes remains poorly understood. In an attempt to link these factors, we have performed longitudinal assessments of behavior (rotarod, open field, passive avoidance) and of regional brain abnormalities determined through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (whole brain, striatum, cortex, hippocampus, corpus callosum), as well as an end-stage histological assessment. Detailed correlative analyses of these three measures were then performed. We found a gender-dependent emergence of motor impairments that was associated with an age-related loss of regional brain volumes. MRI measurements further indicated that there was no striatal atrophy, but rather a lack of striatal growth beyond 8 weeks of age. T2 relaxivity further indicated tissue-level changes within brain regions. Despite these dramatic motor and neuroanatomical abnormalities, R6/2 mice did not exhibit neuronal loss in the striatum or motor cortex, although there was a significant increase in neuronal density due to tissue atrophy. The deposition of the mutant HTT (mHTT) protein, the hallmark of HD molecular pathology, was widely distributed throughout the brain. End-stage histopathological assessments were not found to be as robustly correlated with the longitudinal measures of brain atrophy or motor impairments. In conclusion, modeling pre-manifest and early progression of the disease in more slowly progressing animal models will be key to establishing which changes are causally related. © 2013 Rattray et al