Energy spectra of metastable oxygen atoms produced by electron impact dissociation of O2

Kinetic energies of metastable oxygen atoms formed by electron impact dissociation of oxygen and measured in time of flight experimen

Excitation of the metastable E(3 Sigma g plus) state of N2 by electron impact

The contribution of the N2(E(3 Sigma g plus)) state to the total metastable excitation function of N2 assessed on the basis of time-of-flight studies of metastable nitrogen molecules. The cross section for electron impact excitation state was determined in the domain of the resonance form threshold (11.87 eV) to an energy of about 13 eV. The maximum value of the cross section was found to be (7.0 + or - 4.0) x 10 to the -18th power sq cm at an energy of 12.2 eV. The measurement was made absolute by using the previously determined yield of the metastable detector, the lifetime of the E state, and by eliminating the energy spread in the electron beam from the raw data. The half-width (FWHM) of the resonance-like excitation function near threshold was found to be about 0.4 eV. No substantial evidence was obtained from the present data for the presence of the nonresonant part of the excitation function for the state studied

Production of CO(a 3 Pi) and other metastable fragments by electron impact dissociation of CO2

Dissociative excitation of CO(a 3 Pi) and other metastable fragments such as O(5S) produced by electron impact on CO

A mass spectrometer observation of NO in an auroral arc

NO measurement in auroral arc by mass spectrometer onboard Aerobee rocke

Testosterone replacement therapy for older men

Despite intensive research on testosterone therapy for older men, important questions remain unanswered. The evidence clearly indicates that many older men display a partial androgen deficiency. In older men, low circulating testosterone is correlated with low muscle strength, with high adiposity, with insulin resistance and with poor cognitive performance. Testosterone replacement in older men has produced benefits, but not consistently so. The inconsistency may arise from differences in the dose and duration of testosterone treatment, as well as selection of the target population. Generally, studies reporting anabolic responses to testosterone have employed higher doses of testosterone for longer treatment periods and have targeted older men whose baseline circulating bioavailable testosterone levels were low. Most studies of testosterone replacement have reported anabolic that are modest compared to what can be achieved with resistance exercise training. However, several strategies currently under evaluation have the potential to produce greater anabolic effects and to do so in a safe manner. At this time, testosterone therapy can not be recommended for the general population of older men. Older men who are hypogonadal are at greater risk for the catabolic effects associated with a number of acute and chronic medical conditions. Future research is likely to reveal benefits of testosterone therapy for some of these special populations. Testosterone therapy produces a number of adverse effects, including worsening of sleep apnea, gynecomastia, polycythemia and elevation of PSA. Efficacy and adverse effects should be assessed frequently throughout the course of therapy

N-RAP expression during mouse heart development

N-RAP gene expression and N-RAP localization were studied during mouse heart development using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. N-RAP mRNA was detected at embryonic day (E) 10.5, significantly increased from E10.5 to E16.5, and remained essentially constant from E16.5 until 21 days after birth. In E9.5-10.5 heart tissue, N-RAP protein was primarily associated with developing premyofibril structures containing alpha-actinin, as well as with the Z-lines and M-lines of more-mature myofibrils. In contrast, N-cadherin was concentrated in patches at the periphery of the cardiomyocytes. N-RAP labeling markedly increased between E10.5 and E16.5; almost all of the up-regulated N-RAP was associated with intercalated disk structures, and the proportion of mature sarcomeres containing N-RAP decreased. In adult hearts, specific N-RAP staining was only observed at the intercalated disks and was not found in the sarcomeres. The results are consistent with N-RAP functioning as a catalytic scaffolding molecule, with low levels of the scaffold being sufficient to repetitively catalyze key steps in myofibril assembly