900 research outputs found
Theory of dark resonances for alkali vapors in a buffer-gas cell
We develop an analytical theory of dark resonances that accounts for the full
atomic-level structure, as well as all field-induced effects such as coherence
preparation, optical pumping, ac Stark shifts, and power broadening. The
analysis uses a model based on relaxation constants that assumes the total
collisional depolarization of the excited state. A good qualitative agreement
with experiments for Cs in Ne is obtained.Comment: 16 pages; 7 figures; revtex4. Accepted for publication in PR
An atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) with molecular features of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) in a 62-year-old patient
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) are aggressively growing malignant embryonal neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS), which mainly affect young children. Loss of SMARCB1/INI1 (or SMARCA4 in rare cases) is recognized as the genetic hallmark of AT/RTs and these tumors can be distinguished into three distinct DNA-methylation based molecular subgroups (i.e. -MYC, -SHH and -TYR). While most AT/RTs are considered to occur de novo, previous studies have recognized secondary SMARCB1/INI1-deficient rhabdoid tumors arising from other low grade CNS tumors in young patients. Three AT/RTs, which harbor epigenetic and mutational characteristics of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA), while being entirely void of nuclear SMARCB1/INI1 expression, were recently described in older children. We here report the first case of an AT/RT with molecular features of PXA in a senior patient.
Topoisomer Differentiation of Molecular Knots by FTICR MS: Lessons from Class II Lasso Peptides
Lasso peptides constitute a class of bioactive peptides sharing a knotted
structure where the C-terminal tail of the peptide is threaded through and
trapped within an N-terminalmacrolactamring. The structural characterization of
lasso structures and differentiation from their unthreaded topoisomers is not
trivial and generally requires the use of complementary biochemical and
spectroscopic methods. Here we investigated two antimicrobial peptides
belonging to the class II lasso peptide family and their corresponding
unthreaded topoisomers: microcin J25 (MccJ25), which is known to yield
two-peptide product ions specific of the lasso structure under collisioninduced
dissociation (CID), and capistruin, for which CID does not permit to
unambiguously assign the lasso structure. The two pairs of topoisomers were
analyzed by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance
mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR MS) upon CID, infrared multiple photon
dissociation (IRMPD), and electron capture dissociation (ECD). CID and
ECDspectra clearly permitted to differentiate MccJ25 from its non-lasso
topoisomer MccJ25-Icm, while for capistruin, only ECD was informative and
showed different extent of hydrogen migration (formation of c\bullet/z from
c/z\bullet) for the threaded and unthreaded topoisomers. The ECD spectra of the
triply-charged MccJ25 and MccJ25-lcm showed a series of radical b-type product
ions {\eth}b0In{\TH}. We proposed that these ions are specific of
cyclic-branched peptides and result from a dual c/z\bullet and y/b
dissociation, in the ring and in the tail, respectively. This work shows the
potentiality of ECD for structural characterization of peptide topoisomers, as
well as the effect of conformation on hydrogen migration subsequent to electron
capture
Bichromatic electromagnetically induced transparency in cold rubidium atoms
In a three-level atomic system coupled by two equal-amplitude laser fields
with a frequency separation 2, a weak probe field exhibits a
multiple-peaked absorption spectrum with a constant peak separation .
The corresponding probe dispersion exhibits steep normal dispersion near the
minimum absorption between the multiple absorption peaks, which leads to
simultaneous slow group velocities for probe photons at multiple frequencies
separated by . We report an experimental study in such a
bichromatically coupled three-level system in cold Rb atoms.
The multiple-peaked probe absorption spectra under various experimental
conditions have been observed and compared with the theoretical calculations.Comment: RevTex, 4 pages, 6 figures, Email address: [email protected]
Investigation and compensation of the nonlinear response in photomultiplier tubes for quantitative single-shot measurements.
A concept for time-sensitive optical detectors is described that shows how to confirm whether the detection device is operating in the linear response regime. By evaluating the recorded time decay of a thermographic phosphor, even weak saturation effects far from obvious situations can be identified and further related to either optical or electrical saturation. The concept has been validated by running a PMT detector close to saturation and exposing it to the optical signal decay of two different thermographic phosphors, La(2)O(2)S:Eu and CdWO(4). It was confirmed that short but intense light exposures at the beginning of an individual time decay influence the detector response for the rest of the decaying signal including temporal areas, where the anode current has dropped well below the manufacturer specified current limit. Such situations are common when applying, e.g., phosphor thermometry where it is necessary to retrieve the full decay curve from a single-shot event, i.e., standard techniques based on single-photon counting are omitted. Finally, means of compensation are introduced in order to facilitate the retrieval of useful information from the measurement data when operation in the non-linear response regime is inevitable
Limit on Lorentz and CPT violation of the bound Neutron Using a Free Precession 3He/129Xe co-magnetometer
We report on the search for Lorentz violating sidereal variations of the
frequency difference of co-located spin-species while the Earth and hence the
laboratory reference frame rotates with respect to a relic background field.
The co-magnetometer used is based on the detection of freely precessing nuclear
spins from polarized 3He and 129Xe gas samples using SQUIDs as low-noise
magnetic flux detectors. As result we can determine the limit for the
equatorial component of the background field interacting with the spin of the
bound neutron to be bn < 3.7 x 10^{-32} GeV (95 C.L.).Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Cold atoms in videotape micro-traps
We describe an array of microscopic atom traps formed by a pattern of
magnetisation on a piece of videotape. We describe the way in which cold atoms
are loaded into one of these micro-traps and how the trapped atom cloud is used
to explore the properties of the trap. Evaporative cooling in the micro-trap
down to a temperature of 1 microkelvin allows us to probe the smoothness of the
trapping potential and reveals some inhomogeneity produced by the magnetic
film. We discuss future prospects for atom chips based on microscopic
permanent-magnet structures.Comment: Submitted for EPJD topical issue "Atom chips: manipulating atoms and
molecules with microfabricated structures
Treatment Options in Cushing’s Disease
Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is a grave disease that requires a multidisciplinary and individualized treatment approach for each patient. Approximately 80% of all patients harbour a corticotroph pituitary adenoma (Cushing’s disease) with excessive secretion of adrenocorticotropin-hormone (ACTH) and, consecutively, cortisol. The goals of treatment include normalization of hormone excess, long-term disease control and the reversal of comorbidities caused by the underlying pathology. The treatment of choice is neurosurgical tumour removal of the pituitary adenoma. Second-line treatments include medical therapy, bilateral adrenalectomy and radiation therapy. Drug treatment modalities target at the hypothalamic/pituitary level, the adrenal gland and at the glucocorticoid receptor level and are commonly used in patients in whom surgery has failed. Bilateral adrenalectomy is the second-line treatment for persistent hypercortisolism that offers immediate control of hypercortisolism. However, this treatment option requires a careful individualized evaluation, since it has the disadvantage of permanent hypoadrenalism which requires lifelong glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement therapy and bears the risk of developing Nelson’s syndrome. Although there are some very promising medical therapy options it clearly remains a second-line treatment option. However, there are numerous circumstances where medical management of CD is indicated. Medical therapy is frequently used in cases with severe hypercortisolism before surgery in order to control the metabolic effects and help reduce the anestesiological risk. Additionally, it can help to bridge the time gap until radiotherapy takes effect. The aim of this review is to analyze and present current treatment options in Cushing’s disease
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