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At least 433 records · Page 24
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Beadex, a Drosophila LIM domain only protein, function in follicle cells is essential for egg development and fertility

Highlights: • Eggs laid by Beadex null females show egg shell and dorsal appendage defects. • Knock-down of Beadex in follicle cells leads to abnormal egg, reduced fecundity and fertility. • Knock-down of Beadex in border cells reduces fertility. LIM domain, constituted by two tandem C2H2 zinc finger motif, proteins regulate several biological processes. They are usually found associated with various functional domains like Homeodomain, kinase domain and other protein binding domains. LIM proteins that are devoid of other domains are called LIM only proteins (LMO). LMO proteins were first identified in humans and are implicated in development and oncogenesis. They regulate various cell specifications by regulating the activity of respective transcriptional complexes. The Drosophila LMO protein (dLMO), Beadex (Bx), regulates various developmental processes like wing margin development and bristle development. It also regulates Drosophila behavior in response to cocaine and ethanol. We have previously generated Bx null flies and shown its essential function in neurons for multiple aspects of female reproduction. However, it was not known whether Bx affects reproduction through its independent function in ovaries. In this paper we show that female flies null for Bx lay eggs with multiple defects. Further, through knock down studies we demonstrate that function of Bx in follicle cells is required for normal egg development. We also show that function of Bx is particularly required in border cells for Drosophila fertility.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

A super-cusp divertor configuration for tokamaks

Our study demonstrates a remarkable flexibility of advanced divertor configurations created with the remote poloidal field coils. The emphasis here is on the configurations with three poloidal field nulls in the divertor area. We are seeking the structures where all three nulls lie on the same separatrix, thereby creating two zones of a very strong flux expansion, as envisaged in the concept of Takase’s cusp divertor. It turns out that the set of remote coils can produce a cusp divertor, with additional advantages of: (i) a large stand-off distance between the divertor and the coils and (ii) a thorough control that these coils exert over the fine features of the configuration. In reference to these additional favourable properties acquired by the cusp divertor, the resulting configuration could be called ‘a super-cusp’. General geometrical features of the three-null configurations produced by remote coils are described. Furthermore, issues on the way to practical applications include the need for a more sophisticated control system and possible constraints related to excessively high currents in the divertor coils.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enzalutamide response in a panel of prostate cancer cell lines reveals a role for glucocorticoid receptor in enzalutamide resistant disease

Representative in vitro model systems that accurately model response to therapy and allow the identification of new targets are important for improving our treatment of prostate cancer. Here we describe molecular characterization and drug testing in a panel of 20 prostate cancer cell lines. The cell lines cluster into distinct subsets based on RNA expression, which is largely driven by functional Androgen Receptor (AR) expression. KLK3 , the AR-responsive gene that encodes prostate specific antigen, shows the greatest variability in expression across the cell line panel. Other common prostate cancer associated genes such as TMPRSS2 and ERG show similar expression patterns. Copy number analysis demonstrates that many of the most commonly gained (including regions containing TERC and MYC ) and lost regions (including regions containing TP53 and PTEN) that were identified in patient samples by the TCGA are mirrored in the prostate cancer cell lines. Assessment of response to the anti-androgen enzalutamide shows a distinct separation of responders and non-responders, predominantly related to status of wild-type AR. Surprisingly, several AR-null lines responded to enzalutamide. These AR-null, enzalutamide-responsive cells were characterized by high levels of expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) encoded by NR3C1 . Treatment of these cells with the anti-GR agent mifepristone showed that they were more sensitive to this drug than enzalutamide, as were several of the enzalutamide non-responsive lines. This is consistent with several recent reports that suggest that GR expression is an alternative signaling mechanism that can bypass AR blockade. This study reinforces the utility of large cell line panels for the study of cancer and identifies several cell lines that represent ideal models to study AR-null cells that have upregulated GR to sustain growth.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Ellipsometry with polarisation analysis at cryogenic temperatures inside a vacuum chamber

In this paper we describe a new variant of null ellipsometry to determine thicknesses and optical properties of thin films on a substrate at cryogenic temperatures. In the PCSA arrangement of ellipsometry the polarizer and the compensator are placed before the substrate and the analyzer after it. Usually, in the null ellipsometry the polarizer and the analyzer are rotated to find the searched minimum in intensity. In our variant we rotate the polarizer and the compensator instead, both being placed in the incoming beam before the substrate. Therefore the polarisation analysis of the reflected beam can be realized by an analyzer at fixed orientation. We developed this method for investigations of thin cryogenic films inside a vacuum chamber where the analyzer and detector had to be placed inside the cold shield at a temperature of T≈ 90 K close to the substrate. All other optical components were installed at the incoming beam line outside the vacuum chamber, including all components which need to be rotated during the measurements. Our null ellipsometry variant has been tested with condensed krypton films on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrate (HOPG) at a temperature of T≈ 25 K. We show that it is possible to determine the indices of refraction of condensed krypton and of the HOPG substrate as well as thickness of krypton films with reasonable accuracy.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

MECHANISM OF THE X-RAY AND SOFT GAMMA-RAY EMISSIONS FROM HIGH MAGNETIC FIELD PULSAR: PSR B1509-58

We use the outer gap model to explain the spectrum and the energy-dependent light curves of the X-ray and soft {gamma}-ray radiations of the spin-down powered pulsar PSR B1509-58. In the outer gap model, most pairs inside the gap are created around the null charge surface and the gap's electric field separates the two charges to move in opposite directions. Consequently, the region from the null charge surface to the light cylinder is dominated by the outflow current while that from the null charge surface to the star is dominated by the inflow current. We suggest that the viewing angle of PSR B1509-58 only receives the inflow radiation. The incoming curvature photons are converted to pairs by the strong magnetic field of the star. The X-rays and soft {gamma}-rays of PSR B1509-58 result from the synchrotron radiation of these pairs. Magnetic pair creation requires a large pitch angle, which makes the pulse profile of the synchrotron radiation distinct from that of the curvature radiation. We carefully trace the pulse profiles of the synchrotron radiation with different pitch angles. We find that the differences between the light curves of different energy bands are due to the different pitch angles of the secondary pairs, and that the second peak appearing at E > 10 MeV comes from the region near the star, where the stronger magnetic field allows pair creation to happen with a smaller pitch angle.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Formation and eruption of an active region sigmoid. I. A study by nonlinear force-free field modeling

We present a comprehensive study of the formation and eruption of an active region (AR) sigmoid in AR 11283. To follow the quasi-static evolution of the coronal magnetic field, we reconstruct a time sequence of static fields using a recently developed nonlinear force-free field model constrained by vector magnetograms. A detailed analysis of the fields compared with observations suggests the following scenario for the evolution of the region. Initially, a new bipole emerges into the negative polarity of a preexisting bipolar AR, forming a null-point topology between the two flux systems. A weakly twisted flux rope (FR) is then built up slowly in the embedded core region, largely through flux cancellation, forming a bald patch separatrix surface (BPSS). The FR grows gradually until its axis runs into a torus instability (TI) domain, and the BPSS also develops a full S-shape. The combined effects of the TI-driven expansion of the FR and the line tying at the BP tear the FR into two parts with the upper portion freely expelled and the lower portion remaining behind the postflare arcades. This process dynamically perturbs the BPSS and results in the enhanced heating of the sigmoid and the rope. The accelerated expansion of the upper-portion rope strongly pushes its envelope flux near the null point and triggers breakout reconnection at the null, which further drives the eruption. We discuss the important implications of these results for the formation and disruption of the sigmoid region with an FR.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Current singularities in line-tied three-dimensional magnetic fields

This paper considers the current distributions that derive from finite amplitude perturbations of line-tied magnetic fields comprising hyperbolic field structures. The initial equilibrium on which we principally focus is a planar magnetic X-point threaded by a uniform axial field. This field is line-tied on all surfaces but subject to three-dimensional (3D) disturbances that alter the initial topology. Results of ideal relaxation simulations are presented which illustrate how intense current structures form that can be related, through the influence of line-tying, to the quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs) of the initial configuration. It is demonstrated that the location within the QSL that attracts the current, and its scaling properties, are strongly dependent on the relative dimensions of the QSL with respect to the line-tied boundaries. These results are contrasted with the behavior of a line-tied 3D field containing an isolated null point. In this case, it is found that the dominant current always forms at the null, but that the collapse is inhibited when the null is closer to a line-tied boundary.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Frequency independent quenching of pulsed emission

Simultaneous observations at four different frequencies, 313, 607, 1380, and 4850 MHz, for three pulsars, PSRs B0031–07, B0809+74, and B2319+60, are reported in this paper. Identified null and burst pulses are highly concurrent across more than a decade of frequency. A small fraction of non-concurrent pulses (≤3%) is observed, most of which occur at the transition instances. We report, with very high significance for the first time, the full broadband nature of the nulling phenomenon in these three pulsars. These results suggest that nulling invokes changes on the global magnetospheric scale.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

EXPLORING INTERMEDIATE (5-40 AU) SCALES AROUND AB AURIGAE WITH THE PALOMAR FIBER NULLER

We report on recent K{sub s} -band interferometric observations of the young pre-main-sequence star AB Aurigae obtained with the Palomar Fiber Nuller (PFN). Reaching a contrast of a few 10{sup –4} inside a field of view extending from 35 to 275 mas (5-40 AU at AB Aur's distance), the PFN is able to explore angular scales that are intermediate between those accessed by coronagraphic imaging and long baseline interferometry. This intermediate region is of special interest given that many young stellar objects are believed to harbor extended halos at such angular scales. Using destructive interference (nulling) between two sub-apertures of the Palomar 200 inch telescope and rotating the telescope pupil, we measured a resolved circumstellar excess at all probed azimuth angles. The astrophysical null measured over the full rotation is fairly constant, with a mean value of 1.52%, and a slight additional azimuthal modulation of ±0.2%. The isotropic astrophysical null is indicative of circumstellar emission dominated by an azimuthally extended source, possibly a halo, or one or more rings of dust, accounting for several percent of the total K{sub s}-band flux. The modest azimuthal variation may be explained by some skewness or anisotropy of the spatially extended source, e.g., an elliptical or spiral geometry, or clumping, but it could also be due to the presence of a point source located at a separation of ∼120 mas (17 AU) with ∼6 × 10{sup –3} of the stellar flux. We combine our results with previous Infrared Optical Telescope Array observations of AB Aur at H band, and demonstrate that a dust ring located at ∼30 mas (4.3 AU) represents the best-fitting model to explain both sets of visibilities. We are also able to test a few previously hypothesized models of the incoherent component evident at longer interferometric baselines.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

THE EFFECT OF RECONNECTION ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE SUN’S OPEN–CLOSED FLUX BOUNDARY

Global magnetic field extrapolations are now revealing the huge complexity of the Sun's corona, and in particular the structure of the boundary between open and closed magnetic flux. Moreover, recent developments indicate that magnetic reconnection in the corona likely occurs in highly fragmented current layers, and that this typically leads to a dramatic increase in the topological complexity beyond that of the equilibrium field. In this paper we use static models to investigate the consequences of reconnection at the open–closed flux boundary (“interchange reconnection”) in a fragmented current layer. We demonstrate that it leads to efficient mixing of magnetic flux (and therefore plasma) from open and closed field regions. This corresponds to an increase in the length and complexity of the open–closed boundary. Thus, whenever reconnection occurs at a null point or separator of this open–closed boundary, the associated separatrix arc of the so-called S-web in the high corona becomes not a single line but a band of finite thickness within which the open–closed boundary is highly structured. This has significant implications for the acceleration of the slow solar wind, for which the interaction of open and closed field is thought to be important, and may also explain the coronal origins of certain solar energetic particles. The topological structures examined contain magnetic null points, separatrices and separators, and include a model for a pseudo-streamer. The potential for understanding both the large scale morphology and fine structure observed in flare ribbons associated with coronal nulls is also discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

A Measurement of Gravitational Lensing of the Cosmic Microwave Background by Galaxy Clusters Using Data from the South Pole Telescope

Clusters of galaxies are expected to gravitationally lens the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and thereby generate a distinct signal in the CMB on arcminute scales. Measurements of this effect can be used to constrain the masses of galaxy clusters with CMB data alone. Here we present a measurement of lensing of the CMB by galaxy clusters using data from the South Pole Telescope (SPT). We also develop a maximum likelihood approach to extract the CMB cluster lensing signal and validate the method on mock data. We quantify the effects on our analysis of several potential sources of systematic error and find that they generally act to reduce the best-fit cluster mass. It is estimated that this bias to lower cluster mass is roughly 0.85σ in units of the statistical error bar, although this estimate should be viewed as an upper limit. Furthermore, we apply our maximum likelihood technique to 513 clusters selected via their Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) signatures in SPT data, and rule out the null hypothesis of no lensing at 3.1σ. The lensing-derived mass estimate for the full cluster sample is consistent with that inferred from the SZ flux: M 200,lens = 0.83 +0.38 -0.37 M 200,SZ (68% C.L., statistical error only).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

PROBING THE ISOTROPY OF COSMIC ACCELERATION TRACED BY TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE

We present a method to test the isotropy of the magnitude–redshift relation of Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) and single out the most discrepant direction (in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio) with respect to the all-sky data. Our technique accounts for possible directional variations of the corrections for SNe Ia and yields all-sky maps of the best-fit cosmological parameters with arbitrary angular resolution. To show its potential, we apply our method to the high-redshift SNe Ia from the recent Union2.1 compilation, building maps with three different angular resolutions. We use a Monte Carlo method to estimate the statistical significance with which we could reject the null hypothesis that the magnitude–redshift relation is isotropic based on the properties of the observed most discrepant directions. We find that, based on pure signal-to-noise arguments, the null hypothesis cannot be rejected at any meaningful confidence level. However, if we also consider that the strongest deviations in the Union2.1 sample closely align with the dipole temperature anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background, we find that the null hypothesis should be rejected at the 95%–99% confidence level, slightly depending on the angular resolution of the study. If this result is not due to a statistical fluke, it might either indicate that the SN data have not been cleaned from all possible systematics or even point toward new physics. We finally discuss future perspectives in the field for achieving larger and more uniform data sets that will vastly improve the quality of the results and optimally exploit our method.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

High internal inductance for steady-state operation in ITER and a reactor

Increased confinement and ideal stability limits at relatively high values of the internal inductance (ℓ i ) have enabled an attractive scenario for steady-state tokamak operation to be demonstrated in DIII-D. We achieved normalized plasma pressure in the range appropriate for a reactor in high elongation and triangularity double-null divertor discharges with beta(N) approximate to 5 at ℓ i approximate to 1.3, near the ideal n = 1 kink stability limit calculated without the effect of a stabilizing vacuum vessel wall, with the ideal-wall limit still higher at β N > 5.5. Moreover, confinement is above the H-mode level with H 98(y,H- 2) approximate to 1.8. At q 95 approximate to 7.5, the current is overdriven, with bootstrap current fraction f BS approximate to 0.8, noninductive current fraction f NI > 1 and negative surface voltage. For ITER (which has a single-null divertor shape), operation at ℓ i approximate to 1 is a promising option with f BS approximate to 0.5 and the remaining current driven externally near the axis where the electron cyclotron current drive efficiency is high. This scenario has been tested in the ITER shape in DIII-D at q 95 = 4.8, so far reaching f NI = 0.7 and f BS = 0.4 at beta N approximate to 3.5 with performance appropriate for the ITER Q=5 mission, H 89 beta N /q 2 95 approximate to 0.3. Finally, modeling studies explored how increased current drive power for DIII-D could be applied to maintain a stationary, fully noninductive high ℓ i discharge. Stable solutions in the double-null shape are found without the vacuum vessel wall at beta N = 4, ℓ i = 1.07 and f BS = 0.5, and at beta N = 5 with the vacuum vessel wall.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Gravity of two photon decay and its quantum coherence

A linear analytical solution is derived for the gravitational shock wave produced by a particle of mass M that decays into a pair of null particles. The resulting space-time is shown to be unperturbed and isotropic, except for a discontinuous perturbation on a spherical null shell. Formulae are derived for the perturbation as a function of polar angle, as measured by an observer at the origin observing clocks on a sphere at distance R. The effect of the shock is interpreted physically as an instantaneous displacement in time and velocity when the shock passes the clocks. The time displacement is shown to be anisotropic, dominated by a quadrupole harmonic aligned with the particle-decay axis, with a magnitude δτ ~ GM/c 3 , independent of R. The velocity displacement is isotropic. The solution is used to derive the gravitational effect of a quantum state with a superposition of a large number of randomly oriented, statistically isotropic particle decays. This approach is shown to provide a well-controlled approximation to estimate the magnitude of gravitational fluctuations in systems composed of null point particles up to the Planck energy in a causal diamond of duration τ = 2R/c, as well as quantum-gravitational fluctuations of black holes and cosmological horizons. Coherent large-angle quantum distortions of macroscopic geometry from fluctuations up to the Planck scale are shown to grow linearly with the duration, with a variance $\langle$δτ 2 $\rangle$ ~ τtP much larger than that produced in models without causal quantum coherence.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Anomalies of cosmic anisotropy from holographic universality of great-circle variance

We examine all-sky cosmic microwave background temperature maps on large angular scales to compare their consistency with two scenarios: the standard inflationary quantum picture, and a distribution constrained to have a universal variance of primordial curvature perturbations on great circles. The latter symmetry is not a property of standard quantum inflation, but may be a symmetry of holographic models with causal quantum coherence on null surfaces. Since the variation of great-circle variance is dominated by the largest angular scale modes, in the latter case the amplitude and direction of the unobserved intrinsic dipole (that is, the ℓ = 1 harmonics) can be estimated from measured ℓ = 2, 3 harmonics by minimizing the variance of great-circle variances including only ℓ = 1, 2, 3 modes. It is found that including the estimated intrinsic dipole leads to a nearly-null angular correlation function over a wide range of angles, in agreement with a null anti-hemispherical symmetry independently motivated by holographic causal arguments, but highly anomalous in standard cosmology. Simulations are used here to show that simultaneously imposing the constraints of universal great-circle variance and the vanishing of the angular correlation function over a wide range of angles tends to require patterns that are unusual in the standard picture, such as anomalously high sectorality of the ℓ = 3 components, and a close alignment of principal axes of ℓ = 2 and ℓ = 3 components, that have been previously noted on the actual sky. The precision of these results appears to be primarily limited by errors introduced by models of Galactic foregrounds.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Bifurcations and oscillations in divertor plasma

Here a qualitative picture of development of a bifurcated plasma state in a single-null and double-null divertor configurations is discussed. The simple analytical considerations are verified with SOLPS code modeling in quasi-1D setup. In a more realistic, 2D model, these bifurcations cause self-sustained oscillations of the plasma parameters, leading to deep modulation of the power loading on the divertor targets. In the symmetric double-null case, the bifurcations prompt a spontaneous loss of the up-down symmetry, which results in a sharp, counter-intuitive increase of the power loading on one of the targets along with an increase of the particle content in the divertor plasma.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Reevaluation of spin-dependent WIMP-proton interactions as an explanation of the DAMA data

We reexamine the interpretation of the annual modulation signal observed by the DAMA experiment as due to WIMPs with a spin-dependent coupling mostly to protons. We consider both axial-vector and pseudo-scalar couplings, and elastic as well as endothermic and exothermic inelastic scattering. We conclude that the DAMA signal is in strong tension with null results of other direct detection experiments, particularly PICASSO and KIMS.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Halo-independent direct detection analyses without mass assumptions

Results from direct detection experiments are typically interpreted by employing an assumption about the dark matter velocity distribution, with results presented in the m{sub χ}−σ{sub n} plane. Recently methods which are independent of the DM halo velocity distribution have been developed which present results in the v{sub min}−g-tilde plane, but these in turn require an assumption on the dark matter mass. Here we present an extension of these halo-independent methods for dark matter direct detection which does not require a fiducial choice of the dark matter mass. With a change of variables from v{sub min} to nuclear recoil momentum (p{sub R}), the full halo-independent content of an experimental result for any dark matter mass can be condensed into a single plot as a function of a new halo integral variable, which we call h-til-tilde(p{sub R}). The entire family of conventional halo-independent g-tilde(v{sub min}) plots for all DM masses are directly found from the single h-tilde(p{sub R}) plot through a simple rescaling of axes. By considering results in h-tilde(p{sub R}) space, one can determine if two experiments are inconsistent for all masses and all physically possible halos, or for what range of dark matter masses the results are inconsistent for all halos, without the necessity of multiple g-tilde(v{sub min}) plots for different DM masses. We conduct a sample analysis comparing the CDMS II Si events to the null results from LUX, XENON10, and SuperCDMS using our method and discuss how the results can be strengthened by imposing the physically reasonable requirement of a finite halo escape velocity.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗