Small-angle X-ray scattering of reduced ribonuclease A: effects of solution conditions and comparisons with a computational model of unfolded proteins.
The disulfide-reduced form of bovine ribonuclease A, with the Cys thiols irreversibly blocked, was characterized by small-angle x-ray scattering. To help resolve the conflicting results and interpretations from previous studies of this model unfolded protein, we measured scattering profiles using a range of solution conditions and compared them with the profiles predicted by a computational model for a random-coil polypeptide. Analysis of the simulated and experimental profiles reveals that scattering intensities at intermediate angles, corresponding to interatomic distances in the range of 5-20 A, are particularly sensitive to changes in solvation and can be used to assess the internal scaling behavior of the polypeptide chain, expressed as a mass fractal dimension, D(m). This region of the scattering curve is also much less sensitive to experimental artifacts than is the very small angle regime (the Guinier region) that has been more typically used to characterize unfolded proteins. The experimental small-angle x-ray scattering profiles closely matched those predicted by the computational model assuming relatively small solvation energies. The scaling behavior of the polypeptide approaches that of a well-solvated polymer under conditions where it has a large net charge and at high urea concentrations. At lower urea concentrations and neutral pH, the behavior of the chain approaches that expected for theta-conditions, where the effects of slightly unfavorable interactions with solvent balance those of excluded volume, leading to scaling behavior comparable to that of an idealized random walk chain. Though detectable, the shift toward more compact conformations at lower urea concentrations does not correspond to a transition to a globule state and is associated with little or no reduction in conformational entropy. This type of collapse, therefore, is unlikely to greatly reduce the conformational search for the native state.

title: Energetic electrons associated with magnetic reconnection in the magnetic cloud boundary layer.
abstract: Here is reported in situ observation of energetic electrons (∼100-500 keV) associated with magnetic reconnection in the solar wind by the ACE and Wind spacecraft. The properties of this magnetic cloud driving reconnection and the associated energetic electron acceleration problem are discussed. Further analyses indicate that the electric field acceleration and Fermi-type mechanism are two fundamental elements in the electron acceleration processes and the trapping effect of the specific magnetic field configuration maintains the acceleration status that increases the totally gained energy.

title: Crystallization in the Thin and Ultrathin Films of Poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene
abstract: The crystallization of poly(ethylene−vinyl acetate) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films spun-cast from the polymer/toluene solutions with as-cast thickness from 460 to 10 nm was studied. The lamellar thickness was measured using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and found to increase from 14 to 21 nm for films thinner than 100 nm. The morphology of LLDPE measured by scanning probe microscopy (SPM) showed an edge-on lamellae for the films thicker than 30 nm and flat-on lamellae for the films thinner than 15 nm. A pseudo-“shish-kebab” tiny crystal structure was observed in between the larger lamellae. Crystallinity was confirmed using attenuated total reflectance−Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The shear modulation force microscopy technique (SMFM) was used to measure the melting point, Tm, which was found to decrease for films thinner than 100 nm. The rate of decrease was a function of the annealing pr...

title: Clarification of the three-body decay of 12C (12.71 MeV).
abstract: Using beta decays of a clean source of 12N produced at the IGISOL facility, we have measured the breakup of the 12C (12.71 MeV) state into three alpha particles with a segmented particle detector setup. The high quality of the data permits solving the question of the breakup mechanism of the 12.71 MeV state, a longstanding problem in few-body nuclear physics. Among existing models, a modified sequential model fits the data best, but systematic deviations indicate that a three-body description is needed.

title: Experimental results of the betatron sum resonance
abstract: The experimental observations of motion near the betatron sum resonance, /spl nusub x/+2/spl nusub z/=13, are presented. A fast quadrupole (Panofsky-style ferrite picture-frame magnet with 8 pulsed power supplies) producing a betatron tune shift of the order of 0.03 at rise time of 1 /spl mu/s was used. This quadrupole was used to produce betatron tunes which jumped past and then crossed back through a betatron sum resonance line. The beam response as function of initial betatron amplitudes were recorded turn by turn. The correlated growth of the action variables, J/sub x/ and J/sub z/, was observed. The phase space plots in the resonance frame reveal the features of particle motion near the nonlinear sum resonance region.<<ETX>>

title: Dipole and spin-dipole resonances in charge-exchange reactions on 12C.
abstract: The [sup 12]C([ital n],[ital p])[sup 12]B reaction was studied using the white neutron source at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility/Weapon Neutron Research Center with a continuous incident neutron energy from 60 to 260 MeV. Double differential cross sections were measured in the angular range 11[degree][le][theta][sub lab][le]37[degree]. Using the neutron time-of-flight facility at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility, we also studied the [sup 12]C([ital p],[ital n])[sup 12]N reaction at [ital E][sub [ital p]]=186 MeV and the [sup 12]C([ital [rvec p]],[ital [rvec n]])[sup 12]N reaction at [ital E][sub [ital [rvec p]]]=160 and 186 MeV. Double differential cross sections were measured between [theta][sub lab]=0[degree] and [theta][sub lab]=50[degree] in 5[degree] steps. Spin observables [ital D][sub [ital N][ital N]], [ital A][sub [ital Y]], and [ital P] were measured at [theta][sub lab]=5[degree],9[degree],13[degree] with [ital E][sub [ital [rvec p]]]=160 MeV and [theta][sub lab]=15[degree],20[degree] with [ital E][sub [ital [rvec p]]]=186 MeV. Angular distributions of differential cross section and spin observables for low-lying transitions in the residual nuclei are compared with disorted-wave impulse approximation (DWIA) calculations. A multipole decomposition analysis was performed to study the giant dipole and giant spin-dipole resonances. The contributions of the quasifree reaction in the giant resonance region was subtracted. The empirical results ofmore » energy distributions for dipole ([Delta][ital L]=1) transition are compared with DWIA calculations using nuclear structure information obtained with a conventional shell model and also with a random phase approximation.« less

title: An S matrix analysis of the Z resonance
abstract: The S matrix ansatz is a rigorously model independent approach to describe the cross-sections and asymetries in e + e − annihilation. Using the cross-sections and asymetries measured with the L3 detector during the 1990 and 1991 running period, we determine the mass and the width of the Z boson, the contributions of the Z exchange and the γZ interference. Including the polarization of the τ lepton in the analysis, the leptonic helicity amplitudes of the scattering process are determined assuming lepton universality. The results are compared with other model independent ansatzes as realized in ZFITTER. A systematic bias of the Z mass due to the γZ interference term is detected, which leads to an underestimation of the error on m Z for model independent determinations.

title: The three-point correlation function of galaxies: comparing halo occupation models with observations
abstract: We present models for the three-point correlation function (3PCF) of both dark matter and galaxies. We show that models based on the halo model can reasonably match the dark-matter 3PCF obtained from high-resolution N-body simulations. On small scales (r ≤ 0.5 h -1 Mpc) the 3PCF is sensitive to details regarding the density distributions of dark-matter haloes. On larger scales (r ≥ 2.0 h -1 Mpc) the results are very sensitive to the abundance of the few most prominent haloes. Using the conditional luminosity function, we also construct models for the 3PCF of galaxies, which we test against large mock galaxy samples. The bias of the galaxy distribution with respect to the dark matter, and the finite number of galaxies that can be hosted by individual haloes, significantly reduce the normalized three-point correlation function with respect to that of dark matter. Contrary to the 3PCF of the dark matter, the galaxy 3PCF is much less sensitive to details regarding the spatial number density distribution of galaxies in individual haloes or to the abundance of the few most massive systems. Finally, we show that our model based on the conditional luminosity function is in good agreement with results obtained from the 2-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey. In particular, the model nicely reproduces the observational finding that the 3PCF for early-type galaxies is slightly higher than that of late-type galaxies, and that there is no significant dependence of the 3PCF on galaxy luminosity.

title: Critical Height for the Destabilization of Solar Prominences: Statistical Results from STEREO Observations
abstract: At which height is a prominence inclined to be unstable, or where is the most probable critical height for the prominence destabilization? This question was statistically studied based on 362 solar limb prominences well recognized by Solar Limb Prominence Catcher and Tracker from 2007 April to the end of 2009. We found that there are about 71% disrupted prominences (DPs), among which about 42% of them did not erupt successfully and about 89% of them experienced a sudden destabilization process. After a comprehensive analysis of the DPs, we

title: Calculation of muon final-state probabilities after muon-induced fission
abstract: Experiments have shown that in muonic uranium-238 fission the μ − is bound mainly to the heavy fragment with a few percent of cases of binding to the light fragment. We use time-dependent perturbation theory to calculate the theoretical branching for a variety of fission asymmetries and fission fragment dynamical conditions. We go beyond earlier theoretical works in that we study extended nuclear charge distributions as well as point charges. Agreement with experiment is within the limits of error.

title: Non-relativistic Josephson junction from holography
abstract: A bstractWe construct a Josephson junction in non-relativistic case with a Lifshitz geometry as the dual gravity. We investigate the effect of the Lifshitz scaling in comparison with its relativistic counterpart. The standard sinusoidal relation between the current and the phase difference is found for various Lifshitz scalings characterised by the dynamical critical exponent. We also find the exponential decreasing relation between the condensate of the scalar operator within the barrier at zero current and the width of the weak link, as well as the relation between the critical current and the width. Nevertheless, the coherence lengths obtained from two exponential decreasing relations generically have discrepancies for non-relativistic dual.