We report results of Λ hyperon production in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering off deuterium, carbon, iron, and lead targets obtained with the CLAS detector and the Continuous Electron Beam ...Accelerator Facility 5.014 GeV electron beam. These results represent the first measurements of the Λ multiplicity ratio and transverse momentum broadening as a function of the energy fraction (z) in the current and target fragmentation regions. The multiplicity ratio exhibits a strong suppression at high z and an enhancement at low z. The measured transverse momentum broadening is an order of magnitude greater than that seen for light mesons. This indicates that the propagating entity interacts very strongly with the nuclear medium, which suggests that propagation of diquark configurations in the nuclear medium takes place at least part of the time, even at high z. The trends of these results are qualitatively described by the Giessen Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck transport model, particularly for the multiplicity ratios. These observations will potentially open a new era of studies of the structure of the nucleon as well as of strange baryons.
The recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak demonstrates that cost-effective clinical diagnostics are urgently needed to detect and distinguish viral infections to improve patient care. Unlike dengue virus ...(DENV), ZIKV infections during pregnancy correlate with severe birth defects, including microcephaly and neurological disorders. Because ZIKV and DENV are related flaviviruses, their homologous proteins and nucleic acids can cause cross-reactions and false-positive results in molecular, antigenic, and serologic diagnostics. We report the characterization of monoclonal antibody pairs that have been translated into rapid immunochromatography tests to specifically detect the viral nonstructural 1 (NS1) protein antigen and distinguish the four DENV serotypes (DENV1-4) and ZIKV without cross-reaction. To complement visual test analysis and remove user subjectivity in reading test results, we used image processing and data analysis for data capture and test result quantification. Using a 30-μl serum sample, the sensitivity and specificity values of the DENV1-4 tests and the pan-DENV test, which detects all four dengue serotypes, ranged from 0.76 to 1.00. Sensitivity/specificity for the ZIKV rapid test was 0.81/0.86, respectively, using a 150-μl serum input. Serum ZIKV NS1 protein concentrations were about 10-fold lower than corresponding DENV NS1 concentrations in infected patients; moreover, ZIKV NS1 protein was not detected in polymerase chain reaction-positive patient urine samples. Our rapid immunochromatography approach and reagents have immediate application in differential clinical diagnosis of acute ZIKV and DENV cases, and the platform can be applied toward developing rapid antigen diagnostics for emerging viruses.
This Conceptual Design Report describes LUXE (Laser Und XFEL Experiment), an experimental campaign that aims to combine the high-quality and high-energy electron beam of the European XFEL with a ...powerful laser to explore the uncharted terrain of quantum electrodynamics characterised by both high energy and high intensity. We will reach this hitherto inaccessible regime of quantum physics by analysing high-energy electron-photon and photon-photon interactions in the extreme environment provided by an intense laser focus. The physics background and its relevance are presented in the science case which in turn leads to, and justifies, the ensuing plan for all aspects of the experiment: Our choice of experimental parameters allows (i) field strengths to be probed where the coupling to charges becomes non-perturbative and (ii) a precision to be achieved that permits a detailed comparison of the measured data with calculations. In addition, the high photon flux predicted will enable a sensitive search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. The initial phase of the experiment will employ an existing 40 TW laser, whereas the second phase will utilise an upgraded laser power of 350 TW. All expectations regarding the performance of the experimental set-up as well as the expected physics results are based on detailed numerical simulations throughout.
Several lines of evidence suggest a relevant role for the dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene not only as a susceptibility factor for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but also as a ...predictor of individual methylphenidate (MPH) response. Pharmacogenetic studies of MPH response in ADHD have mainly focused on the 40-bp variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in the 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) of DAT1. Most studies were performed in samples of children and conflicting findings were obtained. Only two studies have assessed 3′-VNTR in samples of adults—one with positive and the other with negative findings. In the present study, we investigate three potentially relevant polymorphisms in DAT1 gene (−839 C > T; Int8 VNTR and 3′-VNTR), and their possible role in therapeutic response to MPH treatment in a sample of 171 Brazilian adults with ADHD. The diagnostic procedures followed the DSM-IV criteria and the outcome measures were the scales Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating scale version IV and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale, applied at the beginning and after the 30th day of treatment. Drug response was assessed by both categorical and dimensional approaches. There was no effect of any DAT1 polymorphisms or haplotypes on MPH response. This is the second report demonstrating absence of differences in MPH response according to DAT1 genotypes in adults with ADHD. Although DAT protein is crucial for the effect of MPH, genetic variations in DAT1 gene probably do not have a significant clinical role in this sample of adults with ADHD.
Layered hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have gained interest in the scientific community due to their feasibility of being used as phase transition materials to store energy by their ...polymorphism transitions. These compounds represent excellent candidates for cooling electronic devices, given that approximately 55 % of electronic device failures or damage is attributed to internal overheating. Here, we synthesized (C12H25N)2CuCl4, (C14H29N)2CuCl4, (C16H33N)2CuCl4, (C12H24N)2MnCl4, (C14H29N)2MnCl4 and (C16H33N)2MnCl4 to evaluate their potential as thermal regulators and to investigate the dependence of their properties on the length of the alkylamine used. The compounds were synthesized by a liquid phase reaction method and the thermal cycling effect was evaluated after 0, 50, 100 and 200 cycles, between 298 K and 333 K. The crystal structure, molecular structure, and thermal properties of the compounds were characterized and compared before and after the thermal cycling. The maximum enthalpy was obtained for the (C16H33N)2CuCl4 and (C16H33N)2MnCl4 with 98.1 and 90.5 J·g−1, respectively. Additionally, all the components were thermally stable up to 200 cycles, with no evidence of structural degradation or thermal properties decreases. Therefore, our results show that these layered hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites could work as effective thermal regulators. By carefully selecting the alkylamine length, it may be possible to optimize their performance further.
•Tailoring thermal properties by varying the alkylammonium length in LHOIP•Description of structural dependence with the length of the alkylammonium chain is described.•An increase in the length of the alkylammonium chain provides higher enthalpies.•Thermal stability validated of the LHIOP components up to 200 thermal cycles.
We report measurements of the photon beam asymmetry for the reactions γp → pπ0 and γp → pη from the GLUEX experiment using a 9 GeV linearly polarized, tagged photon beam incident on a liquid hydrogen ...target in Jefferson Lab’s Hall D. The asymmetries, measured as a function of the proton momentum transfer, possess greater precision than previous π0 measurements and are the first η measurements in this energy regime. The results are compared with theoretical predictions based on t-channel, quasiparticle exchange and constrain the axial-vector component of the neutral meson production mechanism in these models.
A measurement of the electroproduction of photons off protons in the deeply inelastic regime was performed at Jefferson Lab using a nearly 6 GeV electron beam, a longitudinally polarized proton ...target, and the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer. Target-spin asymmetries for ep→e^{'}p^{'}γ events, which arise from the interference of the deeply virtual Compton scattering and the Bethe-Heitler processes, were extracted over the widest kinematics in Q^{2}, x_{B}, t, and ϕ, for 166 four-dimensional bins. In the framework of generalized parton distributions, at leading twist the t dependence of these asymmetries provides insight into the spatial distribution of the axial charge of the proton, which appears to be concentrated in its center. These results also bring important and necessary constraints for the existing parametrizations of chiral-even generalized parton distributions.
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