Observation of the 5p Rydberg states of sulfur difluoride radical by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy

Sulfur difluoride radicals in their ground state have been produced by a "laser-free" pulsed dc discharge of the SF$_{6}$/Ar gas mixtures in a supersonic molecular beam and detected by mass-selective resonance-enhanced multilphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy in the wavelength range of 408 - 420 nm. Analyses of the (3 + 1) REMPI excitation spectrum have enabled identification of three hitherto unknown Rydberg states of this radical. Following the Rydberg state labeling in our previous work [see J. Phys. Chem. A 102, 7233 (1998)], these we label the K(5p$_{1}$) [$nu_{0-0}$ = 71 837 cm$^{-1}$, $omega_{1}^{'}$(a$_{1}$ sym str) = 915 cm$^{-1}$], L(5p$_{2}$) [$nu_{0-0}$ = 72 134 cm$^{-1}$, $omega_{1}^{'}$(a$_{1}$ sym str) = 912 cm$^{-1}$], and M(5p$_{3}$) [$nu_{0-0}$ = 72 336 cm$^{-1}$, $omega_{1}^{'}$(a$_{1}$ sym str) = 926 cm$^{-1}$] Rydberg states, respectively. [Origins, relative to the lowest vibrational level of the X$^{1}$A$_{1}$ ground state, and vibrational frequencies of the symmetric S-F stretching mode are suggested by the numbers in brackets.] Photofragmentation process of SF$_{2}$$^{+}$--SF$^{+}$ + F that relates to the REMPI spectrum was discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 1 table, 2 figure

The composition and origination of particles from surface water in the Chukchi Sea, Arctic Ocean

Suspended particle samples were collected at 11 stations on the shelf and slope regions of the Chukchi Sea and the central Arctic Ocean during the fifth Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (summer 2012). The particle concentration, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and the isotopic composition of the samples were analyzed. The suspended particle concentration varied between 0.56 and 4.01 mg.L-1; the samples collected from the sea ice margin have higher concentrations. The organic matter content is higher in the shelf area (TOC: 9.78%–20.24%; TN: 0.91%–2.31%), and exhibits heavier isotopic compositions (δ13C: –23.29‰ to –26.33‰ PDB; δ15N: 6.14‰–7.78‰), indicating that the organic matter is mostly marine in origin with some terrigenous input. In the slope and the central Arctic Ocean, the organic matter content is lower (TOC: 8.06% – 8.96%; TN: 0.46%–0.72%), except for one sample (SR15), and has lighter isotopic compositions (δ13C: –26.93‰ to – 27.78‰ PDB; δ15N: 4.13‰–4.84‰). This indicates that the organic matter is mostly terrestrially-derived in these regions. The extremely high amount of terrigenous organic matter (TOC: 27.94%; TN: 1.16%; δ13C: –27.43‰ PDB; δ15N: 3.81‰) implies that it was carried by transpolar currents from the East Siberian Sea. Material, including sea ice algae, carried by sea ice are the primary source for particles in the sea ice margins. Sea ice melting released a substantial amount of biomass into the shelf, but a large amount of detrital and clay minerals in the slope and the central Arctic Ocean

Dynamics of Manganese and Cerium Enrichments in Arctic Ocean Sediments: A Case Study From the Alpha Ridge

Manganese (Mn) and cerium (Ce) are known as reactive metals sensitive to marine redox conditions, and can therefore serve as useful proxies for paleoceanographic environments. Quaternary sedimentary records in the Arctic Ocean show a consistent cyclicity of Mn enrichments, but Mn sources, transportation and deposition patterns, and relationship to paleoclimatic conditions are not well understood. Sediment core ARC3-B85D from the Alpha Ridge with the estimated stratigraphy covering ∼350 kyr is used to investigate a coupled distribution of Mn and Ce in Quaternary Arctic Ocean sediments. By analyzing Mn and Ce distribution patterns in the core and surface sediments from the western Arctic Ocean and adjacent shelves, we investigate the conditions and dynamics of concurrent metal enrichments. Stratigraphic Ce and Mn patterns follow inferred glacial-interglacial cycles, with enrichments generally occurring during interglacial-type conditions with high sea levels. However, the relationships involved are not straightforward as highest Mn and Ce enrichments seem to occur closer to the end of interglacial/major interstadial periods, when sea levels were lowering from their highest positions. We conclude that the enrichment patterns are primarily defined by sediment dynamics controlling resuspension and transportation of reactive metals and their deposition in the central Arctic Ocean after diagenetic preconditioning on the shelves. We further infer that major transportation agents are sea-level affected cross-shelf and mid-depth ocean currents rather than sea ice as has been proposed earlier. Comprehending this coupled geochemical and sedimentary system is important for improving the chronostratigraphic framework for Quaternary deposits in the Arctic Ocean

Murine Missing in Metastasis (MIM) Mediates Cell Polarity and Regulates the Motility Response to Growth Factors

Missing in metastasis (MIM) is a member of the inverse BAR-domain protein family, and in vitro studies have implied MIM plays a role in deforming membrane curvature into filopodia-like protrusions and cell dynamics. Yet, the physiological role of the endogenous MIM in mammalian cells remains undefined.We have examined mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from mice in which the MIM locus was targeted by a gene trapping vector. MIM(-/-) MEFs showed a less polarized architecture characterized by smooth edges and fewer cell protrusions as compared to wild type cells, although the formation of filopodia-like microprotrusions appeared to be normal. Immunofluorescent staining further revealed that MIM(-/-) cells were partially impaired in the assembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions but were enriched with transverse actin filaments at the periphery. Poor assembly of stress fibers was apparently correlated with attenuation of the activity of Rho GTPases and partially relieved upon overexpressing of Myc-RhoA(Q63L), a constitutively activated RhoA mutant. MIM(-/-) cells were also spread less effectively than wild type cells during attachment to dishes and substratum. Upon treatment with PDGF MIM(-/-) cells developed more prominent dorsal ruffles along with increased Rac1 activity. Compared to wild type cells, MIM(-/-) cells had a slower motility in the presence of a low percentage of serum-containing medium but migrated normally upon adding growth factors such as 10% serum, PDGF or EGF. MIM(-/-) cells were also partially impaired in the internalization of transferrin, fluorescent dyes, foreign DNAs and PDGF receptor alpha. On the other hand, the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of PDGF receptors was more elevated in MIM depleted cells than wild type cells upon PDGF treatment.Our data suggests that endogenous MIM protein regulates globally the cell architecture and endocytosis that ultimately influence a variety of cellular behaviors, including cell polarity, motility, receptor signaling and membrane ruffling

Assessment of Quality of Fishery Resources in the Northeastern South China Sea

The quality of fishery resources and its assessment is critical and a key to the sustainable development and management of fisheries. In this paper, the quality of fishery resources in the northeastern South China Sea was assessed by analyzing the survey data of fishery resources obtained through bottom trawling in 1964–1965, 1997–1999, 2006–2007, and 2017. The results show that fishery resources in the study region have declined significantly. In 2017, the density of fishery resources in the region was only 19.53% of that in 1964–1965. Overall, the quality of fishery resources in the region showed a downward trend with a quality grade index ranging from 0.30 to 0.42. It was in a critical condition from 1997 to 2007, and in poor condition from 2007 to 2017. In the 53 years from 1964 to 2017, the quality index of fishery resources in the region has decreased by 0.70, with an average decline of 0.13 every 10 years. In the past 20 years, the decline rate of the quality of fishery resources in the northeastern South China Sea has slowed

An imaging-based artificial intelligence model for non-invasive grading of hepatic venous pressure gradient in cirrhotic portal hypertension

The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the gold standard for cirrhotic portal hypertension (PHT), but it is invasive and specialized. Alternative non-invasive techniques are needed to assess the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). Here, we develop an auto-machine-learning CT radiomics HVPG quantitative model (aHVPG), and then we validate the model in internal and external test datasets by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) for HVPG stages (≥10, ≥12, ≥16, and ≥20 mm Hg) and compare the model with imaging- and serum-based tools. The final aHVPG model achieves AUCs over 0.80 and outperforms other non-invasive tools for assessing HVPG. The model shows performance improvement in identifying the severity of PHT, which may help non-invasive HVPG primary prophylaxis when transjugular HVPG measurements are not available