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The article addresses how to create inductance-free plasma and use it to excite soft x-ray lasers. The method employs a bifilar phenomenon in which one part of the pulsed current flows via the plasma column while the other part runs in the opposite direction via the closely placed external conductor. The electromagnetic fields formed by the plasma and return conductor are adjusted by lowering the distance between them to neutralize the magnetic field of the bifilar. Because the net transient magnetic field is drastically reduced, the plasma-conductor mutual inductance is near zero during current rise and decay. The inductance-free (L ∼ 2 nH) 35 cm-long Z pinches in a 3.1 mm-diameter argon-filled alumina capillary with current rise and decay times of 15 ns, dI/dt > 1012 A/s, and amplitudes up to 17 kA were predicted, realized, and verified to be suitable for pumping soft x-ray Ar+8 lasers. Without the bifilar phenomenon, the 35 cm Z pinches obey a 200 nH inductance that restricts the rise and decay durations of currents to 150 ns. The 35 cm Z pinches with 2 nH inductance generated 46.9 nm laser pulses with up to 4 μJ of energy and a beam divergence of 2 mrad at a low operating voltage of 35–45 kV, compared to 0.1–0.8 MV for similar lasers. The bifilar method could find applications in many research and technological fields, where the rise and decay times of discharge currents play a key role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider an inverse problem for Schrödinger operators on a connected equilateral graph G with standard matching conditions. The graph G consists of at least two odd cycles glued together at a common vertex. We prove an Ambarzumian-type result, i.e., if a specific part of the spectrum is the same as in the case of zero potential, then the potential must be equal to zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider an inverse eigenvalue problem for Dirac operators on finite intervals. We show that if for a $${\mu\in\mathbb{C}}$$ the system $${\{\exp{2i\lambda_nx}}$$ , $${\exp{2i\mu x}\}}$$ is closed in $${L^p[-\pi,\pi]}$$ , then there is at most one $${L^p}$$ -potential with the eigenvalues $${\lambda_n}$$ . The result corresponds to the case of Schrödinger operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The XL-Calibur balloon-borne hard X-ray polarimetry mission comprises a Compton-scattering polarimeter placed at the focal point of an X-ray mirror. The polarimeter is housed within a BGO anticoincidence shield, which is needed to mitigate the considerable background radiation present at the observation altitude of ∼ 40 km. This paper details the design, construction and testing of the anticoincidence shield, as well as the performance measured during the week-long maiden flight from Esrange Space Centre to the Canadian Northwest Territories in July 2022. The in-flight performance of the shield followed design expectations, with a veto threshold < 100 keV and a measured background rate of ∼ 0.5 Hz (20–40 keV). This is compatible with the scientific goals of the mission, where %-level minimum detectable polarisation is sought for a Hz-level source rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most accurate models of the capillary Z-pinches used for excitation of soft X-ray lasers and photolithography XUV sources currently are based on the magnetohydrodynamics theory (MHD). The output of MHD-based models greatly depends on details in the mathematical description, such as initial and boundary conditions, approximations of plasma parameters, etc. Small experimental groups who develop soft X-ray/XUV sources often use the simplest Z-pinch models for analysis of their experimental results, despite of these models are inconsistent with the MHD equations. In the present study, keeping only the essential terms in the MHD equations, we obtained a simplified MHD model of cylindrically symmetric capillary Z-pinch. The model gives accurate results compared to experiments with argon plasmas, and provides simple analysis of temporal evolution of main plasma parameters. The results clarify the influence of viscosity, heat flux and approximations of plasma conductivity on the dynamics of capillary Z-pinch plasmas. The model can be useful for researchers, especially experimentalists, who develop the soft X-ray/XUV sources. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a Michigan-type deep brain silicon optrode capable of delivering infrared light into the neural tissue. Silicon optrodes were fabricated by deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) and subsequent wet chemical polishing. The proposed method is feasible to reduce the sidewall roughness significantly and is able to turn the substrate material into an infrared waveguide of sufficient efficiency for infrared neural stimulation. The advantage of our approach is that the fabrication process is fully compatible with that of functional neural microelectrodes. Moreover, there is no need to add further waveguide layers on top of such devices aiming IR stimulation, which may induce less tissue trauma. Our design also facilitates the spatially controlled illumination of the tissue through integrated micromirrors and microlenses and the precise alignment of an optical fiber through an integrated guide slot. An average system efficiency of 22.1% with a Gaussian beam profile (NA = 0.13) was achieved by reducing the RMS roughness of the sidewall down to 8.7 nm using 1310 nm wavelength illumination and coupled core diameter of 9 μm. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the optical properties of a Michigan-type silicon microprobe aiming infrared neural stimulation at the substrate level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetoelectric confinement and stabilization of the plasma column in a soft-x-ray Ar+8 laser, which is excited by a capillary Z pinch, via the combined magnetic and electric fields of the gliding surface discharge is experimentally demonstrated. Unlike soft-x-ray lasers excited by the conventional capillary Z pinches, the magnetoelectric confinement and stabilization of plasma do provide the laser operation without using any external preionization circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the published values of Maxwellian-averaged neutron capture cross sections, we found simple phenomenological rules obeyed by the cross sections as a function of proton and neutron numbers. We use these rules to make predictions for cross sections of neutron capture on nuclei with proton number above 83, where very few MACS data are available. These predictions may be useful in certain models of nucleosynthesis of heavy nuclei in stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is focused on the demonstration of the most critical parameters of the pumping scheme of a table-top Ar+8-laser excited by discharges with relatively low current and voltage ( I ≤ 20 kA, U ≤ 200 kV) in long ( L ∼ 0.5 m) capillaries. The most critical parameters of the pumping scheme were analyzed and then adjusted experimentally. The table-top size is attributed to the use of a low-inductance co-axial discharge configuration that decreases the voltage and current necessary for laser excitation. Low inductance is achieved by using a capillary, water-capacitor and water spark-gap placed into a chamber filled with deionized water. The capillary z-pinch is produced by the water capacitor, which is pulse-charged by a six-stage Marx generator, optimized for the low-inductance discharge configuration. Optimization is performed by adjusting the value of the charging inductance and the peak charging voltage with a water spark-gap. At the optimal conditions laser pulses with a Gaussian-like intensity distribution and divergence angle ∼ 1 mrad and energy ∼ 10 μJ are generated. The physical method for generation of a laser beam with such parameters is based on the use of a long ( L = 0.45 m) capillary plasma (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Reynolds–Orr equation predicts the unconditional stability limit of a flow. Although this seems to be a desirable aim in engineering applications, the predicted critical Reynolds numbers are one magnitude below the experimental observations. In this paper, an attempt is made to reduce this gap for incompressible shear flows. It is known that the Navier–Stokes equation has no regular solution at the initial time if the initial velocity field does not fulfill the compatibility condition. However, the original solution of the Reynolds–Orr equation, the critical perturbation, does not necessarily fulfill this condition. Therefore, the condition is added to the original problem as a non-linear constraint. This requires the use of a discrete functional, introduced in the paper. Two different formulations are implemented and discussed. The solution is assumed in a waveform. The augmented problem is solved in the cases of planar Poiseuille and the Couette flow. The result shows that adding the constraint increases the critical Reynolds number significantly in the case of a streamwise perturbation but only slightly in the case of a spanwise one. It was demonstrated using numerical simulations that the single waveform assumption was unreasonably strict. The usage of the compatibility condition without assuming the single waveform has a negligible effect on the critical Reynolds number. However, the presented methods can be used for adding other reasonable and complicated constraints to the variational problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: PoGOLite (the Polarized Gamma-ray Observer, light-weight version) is a balloon-borne instrument that will measure the polarization of soft gamma-rays in the energy range 25–100keV from various astronomical sources such as pulsars, active galactic nuclei, galactic X-ray binaries and accreting black holes. The polarization properties of such radiation can reveal important new information about the geometry, magnetic fields and the emission mechanisms of the observed sources. The first flight is scheduled for 2009. In this paper, we present the current state of the project. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Our objective was to evaluate the frequency of antinucleosome antibodies (anti-Ncs) in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) comparing it to that observed for anti-DNA and to correlate the presence of these antibodies with clinical manifestations and disease activity. Anti-Ncs and anti-DNA were detected by ELISA in 74 patients with JSLE and 64 normal controls. Clinical records were reviewed. Disease activity was assessed by SLEDAI score. Anti-Ncs and anti-DNA showed sensitivity of 52.7% and 54% and specificity of 98.4% and 95.3%, respectively. Disagreement between the two assays was found in 25.7% of the cases: isolated positive Anti-Ncs in nine cases (12.2%) and isolated positive anti-DNA in 10 cases (13.5%). Agreement was found in 74.3%: both positive antibodies in 30 cases and both negative in 25. The presence of anti-Ncs was significantly associated with malar erythema, hemolytic anemia, anti-DNA and low complement levels, but not with renal manifestations. The presence of anti-Ncs was associated with a higher SLEDAI median (P < 0.001) and its titers correlated with the SLEDAI score (r = 0.504; P < 0.001). The frequency, sensitivity and specificity values were similar between anti-Ncs and anti-DNA antibodies in patients with JSLE. Nevertheless, the discordance of 25.7% between the two assays suggests that both antibodies may have a complementary diagnostic role. The association and correlation between anti-Ncs and several disease activity parameters demonstrated its usufulness in the follow-up of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal stability and internal dynamics of myosin head in psoas muscle fibres of rabbit in the intermediate state AM.ADP.Pi - mimicked by AM.ADP.Vi - of the ATP hydrolysis cycle was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and spin label electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Three overlapping endotherms were detected in rigor, in strongly binding ADP and weakly binding AM.ADP.Vi state of myosin to actin. The transition at 54.0°C can be assigned to the 50 k actin-binding domain. The transition at highest temperature (67.3°C) represents the unfolding of actin and the contributions arising from the nucleotide-myosin head interaction. The transition at 58.4°C reflects the melting of the large rod part of myosin. Nucleotide binding (ADP, ATP plus orthovanadate) induced shifts of the melting temperatures and produced changes in the calorimetric enthalpies. The changes of the EPR parameters indicated local rearrangements of the internal structure in myosin heads in agreement with DSC findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential scanning calorimetry and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments were performed on glycerinated skeletal muscle fibres to study the effect of the binding of nucleotides and nucleotide analogues to myosin. The thermal unfolding of muscle fibres in rigor showed three discrete domain regions with thermal stability of 52.2, 58.8 and 67.8°C. AMP.PNP and ATP plus AlF3 or BeF2 affected markedly the transitions, which implies the strong interaction between AMP.PNP or nucleotide analogues and catalytic domain of myosin, and a partial dissociation of heads from actin. ADP.BeFx and states model the transition states of the ATP hydrolysis cycle which precede the powerstroke of the muscle fibres. Spectrum deconvolution on isothiocyanate-labelled fibres in AMP.PNP-state resulted in two populations; 50% of labels was highly ordered with respect to fibre axis, whereas the other 50% of labels was randomly oriented. The myosin heads which showed high degree of order were in the strongly binding ADP-state. The spectra in - and ADP.BeFx state reflected random orientation of labels with increased rotational mobility in comparison with rigor. The results suggest that myosin in muscle fibres in ADP.BeFx state exists in two forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled Image • Review of the state of the art on reactive ion etching of single crystal diamond • In-depth analysis of diamond ICP RIE process parameters • Quantitative analysis of reported etch rates, selectivity and etch depths • Comprehensive catalog of diamond ICP RIE recipes providing selection guidelines [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive tumour for which an increasing incidence has been reported. A new human polyomavirus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV), was recently isolated from these tumours by applying digital transcriptome subtraction methodology. Objectives To detect the presence or absence of MCV in MCCs and other, randomly selected neoplasms. Methods Nine primary or recurrent MCCs from seven patients were examined; 29 other tumours (squamous cell, basal cell and basosquamous carcinomas and malignant melanomas) were examined for comparative purposes. Viral large T protein (LT1 and LT3), and viral capsid protein (VP1) were detected by primer-directed amplification, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method, and the amplified PCR products were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and subsequent sequence analysis. Results The presence of viral T antigen and/or viral capsid DNA sequences was demonstrated in seven of the eight MCC lesions. None of the comparative samples contained MCV DNA. Conclusions Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that MCV infection may well be specific for MCC, and MCV may play a role in the pathogenesis of MCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reveal cationic site preference in β-FeSi2, Co-substituted samples synthesized by various techniques such as molecular beam epitaxy, ion implantation, and chemical vapor transport were investigated by 57Fe conversion electron Mössbauer (CEM) as well as 57Co Mössbauer emission (ME) spectroscopy. Literature on the structure of β-FeSi2 is somewhat contradictory, especially on the point of the population of the two iron sites in the orthorhombic structure. 57Co ME and 57Fe CEM spectra both showed two quadrupole split spectral components in the crystalline phase. Hyperfine parameters indicate that Co atoms substitute Fe in both Fe positions in the orthorhombic lattice. The aim of the present study was to get reliable results on the relative population of the two iron sites and determine the substitution of the iron sites by Co atoms in the β-FeSi2 lattice. The relative intensities of the two components in the absorption and emission Mössbauer spectra were found to be very similar for the samples prepared by different techniques, indicating a homogeneous distribution of Co on both Fe sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a brief survey of the Hungarian constructed wetland types that have been established for wastewater treatment in the last thirty years, and gives an analysis of the design and performance of those reed ponds that have been constructed for the polishing ofpetrochemical wastewaters. Natural treatment processes are in great demand because they are protective of the environment and have low operation costs and satisfactory purification efficiency. Three major types of treatment wetlands are utilized in Hungary: free water surface system, subsurface flow system, and artificial floating meadow system. Since the 1970s, the petrochemical industry has utilized sewage treatment systems consisting of ponds of emergent and/or submerged macrophyte vegetation that operate as free water surface systems. In thewastewater treatment system of Nyirbogdany, the average COD removal efficiency is around 60%, while the reed-submerged weeds pond has an efficiency of 25%. In the reed pond of the TIFO post-treatment pond system, the total phosphorus removal averaged 40% for several years, while the nitrogen removal efficiency has not exceeded 35%. For both constructed wetlands, the nutrient stabilising and heavy metal accumulating role of the aquatic plant-periphyton complex has been quantified, and the biological water quality has been found to be typical of any other natural water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Polarized Gamma-ray Explorer (PoGOLite) is a balloon-borne instrument designed to measure polarization in the energy range 25–80keV from many classes of astronomical objects, including pulsars, accretion discs and astrophysical jets. Using coincident detection of Compton scattering and photoelectric absorption in an array of 217 detector cells, the modulation in scattering angles can be determined. By this technique, the instrument will be able to measure as low as 10% polarization from a 200mCrab source in a 6-h flight at an altitude of 40km. The maiden flight of a 61-unit “pathfinder” instrument is scheduled to take place from the Esrange ballooning facility in northern Sweden in mid-2011. This flight will focus on measuring polarization from the Crab nebula and possibly Cygnus X-1, as well as to study the in-flight background caused by cosmic ray particles, X-ray and gamma-ray photons, and albedo neutrons. In order to reject such background, the instrument features a combination of active and passive shielding, as well as both active and passive collimation of the incident photons. Here, the design and status of the PoGOLite pathfinder instrument will be reviewed. Pre-flight calibration and performance tests will also be presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

XL-Calibur is a balloon-borne Compton polarimeter for X-rays in the ∼ 15–80 keV range. Using an X-ray mirror with a 12 m focal length for collecting photons onto a beryllium scattering rod surrounded by CZT detectors, a minimum-detectable polarization as low as ∼ 3% is expected during a 24-hour on-target observation of a 1 Crab source at 45° elevation. Systematic effects alter the reconstructed polarization as the mirror focal spot moves across the beryllium scatterer, due to pointing offsets, mechanical misalignment or deformation of the carbon-fiber truss supporting the mirror and the polarimeter. Unaddressed, this can give rise to a spurious polarization signal for an unpolarized flux, or a change in reconstructed polarization fraction and angle for a polarized flux. Using bench-marked Monte-Carlo simulations and an accurate mirror point-spread function characterized at synchrotron beam-lines, systematic effects are quantified, and mitigation strategies discussed. By recalculating the scattering site for a shifted beam, systematic errors can be reduced from several tens of percent to the few-percent level for any shift within the scattering element. The treatment of these systematic effects will be important for any polarimetric instrument where a focused X-ray beam is impinging on a scattering element surrounded by counting detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have examined by DSC the complexes of myosin with actin in fibre system in the absence of nucleotides and the intermediate state of ATP hydrolysis by mimicking stable complex with myosin and ADP and beryllium fluoride in muscle fibres. Comparing the DSC results with other structural analogues of phosphate P i leads the conclusion that the AM.ADP.BeF x complex favours the AM.ADP.P i complex in fibre system. The deconvolution of DSC scans resulted in four transitions, the first three transition temperatures were almost independent of the intermediate state of the muscle, the last transition temperature was shifted to higher temperature, depending on the actual intermediate states of ATP hydrolysis. In AM.ADP.V i state the transition temperature at the second and third transitions (actin binding domain and myosin rod) varied only slightly, whereas the last one (the fourth transition) shifted markedly to higher temperature depending on the ternary complex, e.g. in case of ADP plus BeF x it was 77.7°C, the highest value in weakly binding state of myosin to actin. The sum of calorimetric enthalpies of the first and last curves was practically constant, but their fractions depended on the state of the muscle. In strongly binding state of myosin to actin (rigor, ADP state) the fraction of the first transition was much larger, than the last one, whereas in weakly binding state of myosin to actin, the fraction of the first transition decreased at the expense of the last one. It supports also the view that these transitions are parts of the same portion of the myosin molecule. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary We determined the prevalence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and evaluated the correlation between ANCA positivity and clinical features. Forty-one patients with SLE and two control groups were examined. One of the control groups consisted of 15 patients with systemic vasculitis, and the other of 12 healthy blood donors. A quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to measure the serum cytoplasmic ANCA (cANCA) and perinuclear ANCA (pANCA) levels. cANCA positivity was found in three patient samples, and pANCA positivity in 10 SLE patients. The occurrence and titres of both ANCA types in SLE patients were similar to those in healthy controls and significantly lower than those in patients with systemic vasculitis. The clinical picture and antibody profile were similar in ANCA-positive and ANCA-negative SLE patients. We conclude that measurement of ANCAs does not provide any additional diagnostic or prognostic data in SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are exceptionally bright electromagnetic events occurring daily on the sky. The prompt emission is dominated by X-/ γ -rays. Since their discovery over 50 years ago, GRBs are primarily studied through spectral and temporal measurements. The properties of the emission jets and underlying processes are not well understood. A promising way forward is the development of missions capable of characterising the linear polarisation of the high-energy emission. For this reason, the SPHiNX mission has been developed for a small-satellite platform. The polarisation properties of incident high-energy radiation (50–600 keV) are determined by reconstructing Compton scattering interactions in a segmented array of plastic and Gd 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 (Ce) (GAGG(Ce)) scintillators. During a two-year mission, ∼ 200 GRBs will be observed, with ∼ 50 yielding measurements where the polarisation fraction is determined with a relative error ≤ 10%. This is a significant improvement compared to contemporary missions. This performance, combined with the ability to reconstruct GRB localisation and spectral properties, will allow discrimination between leading classes of emission models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarimetric observations of celestial sources in the hard X-ray band stand to provide new information on emission mechanisms and source geometries. PoGO+ is a Compton scattering polarimeter (20–150 keV) optimised for the observation of the Crab (pulsar and wind nebula) and Cygnus X-1 (black hole binary), from a stratospheric balloon-borne platform launched from the Esrange Space Centre in summer 2016. Prior to flight, the response of the polarimeter has been studied with polarised and unpolarised X-rays allowing a Geant4-based simulation model to be validated. The expected modulation factor for Crab observations is found to be M Crab = ( 41.75 ± 0.85 ) % , resulting in an expected Minimum Detectable Polarisation (MDP) of 7.3% for a 7 day flight. This will allow a measurement of the Crab polarisation parameters with at least 5 σ statistical significance assuming a polarisation fraction ∼ 20 % – a significant improvement over the PoGOLite Pathfinder mission which flew in 2013 and from which the PoGO+ design is developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-Calibur is a balloon-borne telescope that measures the polarization of high-energy X-rays in the 15–50 keV energy range. The instrument makes use of the fact that X-rays scatter preferentially perpendicular to the polarization direction. A beryllium scattering element surrounded by pixellated CZT detectors is located at the focal point of the InFOCµS hard X-ray mirror. The instrument was launched for a long-duration balloon (LDB) flight from McMurdo (Antarctica) on December 29, 2018, and obtained the first constraints of the hard X-ray polarization of an accretion-powered pulsar. Here, we describe the characterization and calibration of the instrument on the ground and its performance during the flight, as well as simulations of particle backgrounds and a comparison to measured rates. The pointing system and polarimeter achieved the excellent projected performance. The energy detection threshold for the anticoincidence system was found to be higher than expected and it exhibited unanticipated dead time. Both issues will be remedied for future flights. Overall, the mission performance was nominal, and results will inform the design of the follow-up mission XL-Calibur , which is scheduled to be launched in summer 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Therapy-Resistant Leg Ulcer Caused by Multiple Myeloma" in September 2005 issue.

PoGOLite is a balloon-borne hard X-ray polarimeter dedicated to the study of point sources. Compton scattered events are registered using an array of plastic scintillator units to determine the polarisation of incident X-rays in the energy range 20–240 keV. In 2013, a near circumpolar balloon flight of 14 days duration was completed after launch from Esrange, Sweden, resulting in a measurement of the linear polarisation of the Crab emission. Building on the experience gained from this Pathfinder flight, the polarimeter is being modified to improve performance for a second flight in 2016. Such optimisations, based on Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations, take into account the source characteristics, the instrument response and the background environment which is dominated by atmospheric neutrons. This paper describes the optimisation of the polarimeter and details the associated increase in performance. The resulting design, PoGO+, is expected to improve the Minimum Detectable Polarisation (MDP) for the Crab from 19.8% to 11.1% for a 5 day flight. Assuming the same Crab polarisation fraction as measured during the 2013 flight, this improvement in MDP will allow a 5 σ constrained result. It will also allow the study of the nebula emission only (Crab off-pulse) and Cygnus X-1 if in the hard state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrasound measurements are used to detect seismic waves and a large effort is devoted to eliminating the turbulence-related infrasound signal, usually considered as noise. Here we take a complementary approach, investigating whether infrasound can provide information on atmospheric turbulence. Microphone measurements of infrasound from an experimental campaign in Hungary in 2013 are used, together with data from a nearby sonic anemometer and a sodar. The comparison of infrasound integrated spectral energy to turbulent kinetic energy from the sonic provides a good match when turbulence is present near the ground. Moreover, on stable nights when the surface layer is strongly stratified and with turbulence absent, microphones sometimes recorded infrasound when the sodar showed a low-level jet above the surface inversion, indicating that microphones may be used as detectors of elevated turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 50 years since the advent of X-ray astronomy there have been many scientific advances due to the development of new experimental techniques for detecting and characterising X-rays. Observations of X-ray polarisation have, however, not undergone a similar development. This is a shortcoming since a plethora of open questions related to the nature of X-ray sources could be resolved through measurements of the linear polarisation of emitted X-rays. The PoGOLite Pathfinder is a balloon-borne hard X-ray polarimeter operating in the 25-240 keV energy band from a stabilised observation platform. Polarisation is determined using coincident energy deposits in a segmented array of plastic scintillators surrounded by a BGO anticoincidence system and a polyethylene neutron shield. The PoGOLite Pathfinder was launched from the SSC Esrange Space Centre in July 2013. A near-circumpolar flight was achieved with a duration of approximately two weeks. The flight performance of the Pathfinder design is discussed for the three Crab observations conducted. The signal-to-background ratio for the observations is shown to be 0.25 ±0.03 and the Minimum Detectable Polarisation (99 % C.L.) is (28.4 ±2.2) %. A strategy for the continuation of the PoGOLite programme is outlined based on experience gained during the 2013 maiden flight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarimetric studies of astrophysical sources can make important contributions to resolve the geometry of the emitting region and determine the photon emission mechanism. PoGOLite is a balloon-borne polarimeter operating in the hard X-ray band (25–240 keV), with a Pathfinder mission focussing on Crab observations. Within the polarimeter, the distribution of Compton scattering angles is used to determine the polarisation fraction and angle of incident photons. To assure an unbiased measurement of the polarisation during a balloon flight it is crucial to characterise the performance of the instrument before the launch. This paper presents the results of the PoGOLite calibration tests and simulations performed before the 2013 balloon flight. The tests performed confirm that the polarimeter does not have any intrinsic asymmetries and therefore does not induce bias into the measurements. Generally, good agreement is found between results from test data and simulations which allows the polarimeter performance to be estimated for Crab observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Generic Core Scales and Cardiac Module.Methods: The PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales and the PedsQL 3.0 Cardiac Module was administered to 254 caregivers of children (aged 2-18 years) and to 195 children (aged 5-18 years) at a pediatric cardiology outpatient unit. A postal survey on a demographically group-matched sample of the general population with 525 caregivers of children (aged 2-18 years) and 373 children (aged 5-18 years) was conducted with the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scale. Responses were described, compared over subgroups of subjects, and were used to assess practical utility, distributional coverage, construct validity, internal consistency, and inter-reporter agreement of the instrument.Results: The moderate scale-level mean percentage of missing item responses (range 1.8-2.3%) supported the feasibility of the Generic Core Scales for general Hungarian children. Minimal to moderate ceiling effects and no floor effects were found on the Generic Core Scales. We observed stronger ceiling than floor effects in the Cardiac Module. Most of the scales showed satisfactory reliability with Cronbach's alpha estimates exceeding 0.70. Generally, moderate to good agreement was found between self- and parent proxy-reports in the patient and in the comparison group (intraclass correlation coefficient range 0.52-0.77), but remarkably low agreement in the perceived physical appearance subscale in the age group 5-7 years (0.18) and for the treatment II scale (problems on taking heart medicine) scale of the Cardiac Module in children aged 8-12 years (0.39). Assessing the construct validity of the questionnaires, statistically significant difference was found between the patient group and the comparison group only in the Physical Functioning Scale scores (p = 0.003) of the child self-report component, and in Physical (p = 0.022), Emotional, (p = 0.017), Psychosocial Summary (p = 0.019) scores and in the total HRQoL (health-related quality of life) scale score (p = 0.034) for parent proxy-report.Conclusion: The findings generally support the feasibility, reliability and validity of the Hungarian translation of the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales and the PedsQL 3.0 Cardiac Module in Hungarian children with heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared measurements of upper body aerobic fitness in elite (EC; n = 7) and intermediate rock climbers (1C; n = 7), and a control group (C; n = 7). Subjects underwent an upper limb incremental test on hand cycle ergometer, with increments of 23 W-min"1, until exhaustion. Ventilation (VE) data were smoothed to 10 s averages and plotted against time for the visual determination of the first ( VT1 ) and second (VT2) ventilatory thresholds. Peak power output was not different among groups [EC= 130.9 (±11.8) W; 1C=122.1 (±28.4) W; C = 115.4 (±15.1) W], but time to exhaustion was significantly higher in EC than 1C and C. VO2Peai< was significantly higher in EC [36.8 (±5.7) mLkg-1.min-1] and IC [35.5 (±5.2) mLkg-'.mirT1] than C [28.8 (±5.0) mL.kg-1.min-1], but there was no difference between EC and IC. VT1 was significantly higher inECthanC[EC=69.0(±9.4)W;lC = 62.4(±13.0) W; C = 52.1 (±11.8) W], but no significant difference was observed in VT2 [EC = 103.5 (±18.8) W; IC = 92.0 (±22.0) W; C=85.6 (±19.7) W]. These results show that elite indoor rock climbers elicit higher aerobic fitness profile than control subjects when measured with an upper body test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to propose an alternative method (MAODALT) to estimate the maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) using only one supramaximal exhaustive test. Nine participants performed the following tests: (a) a maximal incremental exercise test, (b) six submaximal constant workload tests, and (c) a supramaximal constant workload test. Traditional MAOD was determined by calculating the difference between predicted O2 demand and accumulated O2 uptake during the supramaximal test. MAODALT was established by summing the fast component of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption and the O2 equivalent for energy provided by blood lactate accumulation, both of which were measured during the supramaximal test. There was no significant difference between MAOD (2.82 ± 0.45 L) and MAODALT (2.77 ± 0.37 L) (p=0.60). The correlation between MAOD and MAODALT was also high (r=0.78; p=0.014). These data indicate that the MAODALT can be used to estimate the MAOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The energy response of plastic scintillators (Eljen Technology EJ-204) to polarized soft gamma-ray photons below 100keV has been studied, primarily for the balloon-borne polarimeter, PoGOLite. The response calculation includes quenching effects due to low-energy recoil electrons and the position dependence of the light collection efficiency in a 20cm long scintillator rod. The broadening of the pulse-height spectrum, presumably caused by light transportation processes inside the scintillator, as well as the generation and multiplication of photoelectrons in the photomultiplier tube, were studied experimentally and have also been taken into account. A Monte Carlo simulation based on the Geant4 toolkit was used to model photon interactions in the scintillators. When using the polarized Compton/Rayleigh scattering processes previously corrected by the authors, scintillator spectra and angular distributions of scattered polarized photons could clearly be reproduced, in agreement with the results obtained at a synchrotron beam test conducted at the KEK Photon Factory. Our simulation successfully reproduces the modulation factor, defined as the ratio of the amplitude to the mean of the distribution of the azimuthal scattering angles, within (relative). Although primarily developed for the PoGOLite mission, the method presented here is also relevant for other missions aiming to measure polarization from astronomical objects using plastic scintillator scatterers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Measurements of polarization play a crucial role in the understanding of the dominant emission mechanism of astronomical sources. Polarized Gamma-ray Observer-Light version (PoGOLite) is a balloon-borne astronomical soft gamma-ray polarimeter at the 25–80keV band. The PoGOLite detector consists of a hexagonal close-packed array of 217 Phoswich detector cells (PDCs) and side anti-coincidence shields (SASs) made of BGO crystals surrounding PDCs. Each PDC consists of a slow hollow scintillator, a fast scintillator and a BGO crystal that connects to a photomultiplier tube at the end. To examine the PoGOLite''s capability and estimate the performance, we conducted experiments with the PDC using radioisotope 241Am. In addition, we compared this result with performance expected by Monte Carlo simulation with Geant4. As a result, we found that the actual PDC has the capability to detect a 100m Crab source until 80keV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Linear polarization in X- and γ-rays is an important diagnostic of many astrophysical sources, foremost giving information about their geometry, magnetic fields, and radiation mechanisms. However, very few X-ray polarization measurements have been made, and then only mono-energetic detections, whilst several objects are assumed to have energy dependent polarization signatures. In this paper, we investigate whether detection of energy dependent polarization from cosmic sources is possible using the Compton technique, in particular with the proposed PoGOLite balloon-experiment, in the 25–100keV range. We use Geant4 simulations of a PoGOLite model and input photon spectra based on Cygnus X-1 and accreting magnetic pulsars (100mCrab). Effective observing times of 6 and 35h were simulated, corresponding to a standard and a long duration flight, respectively. Both smooth and sharp energy variations of the polarization are investigated and compared to constant polarization signals using chi-square statistics. We can reject constant polarization, with energy, for the Cygnus X-1 spectrum (in the hard state), if the reflected component is assumed to be completely polarized, whereas the distinction cannot be made for weaker polarization. For the accreting pulsar, constant polarization can be rejected in the case of polarization in a narrow energy band with at least 50% polarization, and similarly for a negative step distribution from 30% to 0% polarization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report about the beam test on a prototype of the balloon-based astronomical soft gamma-ray polarimeter, PoGOLite (Polarized Gamma-ray Observer – Light Version) conducted at KEK Photon Factory, a synchrotron radiation facility in Japan. The synchrotron beam was set at 30, 50, and 70keV and its polarization was monitored by a calibrated polarimeter. The goal of the experiment was to validate the flight design of the polarimeter. PoGOLite is designed to measure polarization by detecting a Compton scattering and the subsequent photo-absorption in an array of 217 well-type phoswich detector cells (PDCs). The test setup included a first flight model PDC and a front-end electronics to select and reconstruct valid Compton scattering events. The experiment has verified that the flight PDC can detect recoil electrons and select valid Compton scattering events down to 30keV from background. The measure azimuthal modulations (34.4%, 35.8% and 37.2% at 30, 50, and 70keV, respectively) agreed within 10% (relative) with the predictions by Geant4 implemented with dependence on the initial and final photon polarizations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

By implanting Co and Fe in sequence into Si (111), metastable ternary Co[sub 1-x]Fe[sub x]Si[sub 2] phases were formed. Mo¨ssbauer effect measurements showed three resonance line components in the spectrum. Comparison of the central shift (CS) values of the components with those appearing in the stable ternary phases indicated that iron atoms are positioned in the substitutional Co site, in the empty cube of the fluorite-type lattice and in CsCl-like B2 structures. It was found that the CS values of two components are in the velocity range of the values obtained for the metastable γ-FeSi[sub 2] synthesized using various methods. This result suggests the existence of a similar structure. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pemphigus erythematosus, initially described as a combination of pemphigus with lupus erythematosus, and pemphigus foliaceus are now frequently considered localized and generalized variants of superficial pemphigus. Yet diagnostic criteria for pemphigus erythematosus remain controversial. Distinct from pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus erythematosus displays immune depositions at the dermal-epidermal junction, which suggests additional immunopathological mechanisms. We present three patients with clinical and histopathologic signs of superficial pemphigus, who all exhibited an immunomorphology characteristic of pemphigus erythematosus. Complement depositions in a granular-linear fashion were consistently found at the dermal-epidermal junction besides in vivo bound and circulating antikeratinocyte cell-surface autoantibodies. Histopathology showed subcorneal acantholysis, and all sera contained antidesmoglein 1 but not antidesmoglein 3 autoantibodies detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Additional autoantibodies against a 230-kDa protein and against a 190-kDa protein comigrating with bullous pemphigoid antigen 1 (BP230) and periplakin, respectively, were present in all the patients' sera. As two sera specifically reacted with BP230 by ELISA, the presence of BP230-specific autoantibodies could be associated with dermal-epidermal immune staining in these patients. In pemphigus erythematosus, dermal–epidermal immune staining is generally attributed to the deposition of immune complexes, while the presence of BP230-specific autoantibodies has not been reported in this disease previously. Perhaps, the unique autoantibody profile of the patients in the study permits discrimination between patients with superficial pemphigus that display additional dermal-epidermal immune staining from those with conventional pemphigus foliaceus on a molecular basis. Further studies will be required to substantiate the frequency of this occurrence and to unravel its pathogenic significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the instrumentation, mechanism and applicability of Diffraction Enhanced Imaging (DEI) in soft tissue imaging. It offers brief information on principles and concepts of DEI including the preparation of an imaging beam, the refraction and extinction as two sources of image contrast to radiography, and the stages of scanning. It also explores the DEI imaging in breast, cartilage, and lungs.

XL-Calibur is a hard X-ray (15-80 keV) polarimetry mission operating from a stabilised balloon-borne platform in the stratosphere. It builds on heritage from the X-Calibur mission, which observed the accreting neutron star GX 301 - 2 from Antarctica, between December 29th 2018 and January 1st 2019. The XL-Calibur design incorporates an X-ray mirror, which focusses X-rays onto a polarimeter comprising a beryllium rod surrounded by Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detectors. The polarimeter is housed in an anticoincidence shield to mitigate background from particles present in the stratosphere. The mirror and polarimeter-shield assembly are mounted at opposite ends of a 12 m long lightweight truss, which is pointed with arcsecond precision by WASP – the Wallops Arc Second Pointer. The XL-Calibur mission will achieve a substantially improved sensitivity over X-Calibur by using a larger effective area X-ray mirror, reducing background through thinner CZT detectors, and improved anticoincidence shielding. When observing a 1 Crab source for t day days, the Minimum Detectable Polarisation (at 99% confidence level) is ∼ 2 % · t day − 1 / 2 . The energy resolution at 40 keV is ∼ 5.9 keV. The aim of this paper is to describe the design and performance of the XL-Calibur mission, as well as the foreseen science programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "A Mannose-binding Receptor is Expressed on Human Keratinocytes and Mediates Killing of Candida Albicans," by L. Kemény and colleagues is presented.