A quasi-monoenergetic short time duration compact proton source for probing high energy density states of matter

We report on the development of a highly directional, narrow energy band, short time duration proton beam operating at high repetition rate. The protons are generated with an ultrashort-pulse laser interacting with a solid target and converted to a pencil-like narrow-band beam using a compact magnet-based energy selector. We experimentally demonstrate the production of a proton beam with an energy of 500 keV and energy spread well below 10[Formula: see text], and a pulse duration of 260 ps. The energy loss of this beam is measured in a 2 [Formula: see text]m thick solid Mylar target and found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. The short time duration of the proton pulse makes it particularly well suited for applications involving the probing of highly transient plasma states produced in laser-matter interaction experiments. This proton source is particularly relevant for measurements of the proton stopping power in high energy density plasmas and warm dense matter.

A broadband proton backlighting platform to probe shock propagation in low-density systems

A proton backlighting platform has been developed for the study of strong shock propagation in low-density systems in planar geometry. Electric fields at the converging shock front in inertial confinement fusion implosions have been previously observed, demonstrating the presence of-and the need to understand-strong electric fields not modeled in standard radiation-hydrodynamic simulations. In this planar configuration, long-pulse ultraviolet lasers are used to drive a strong shock into a gas-cell target, while a short-pulse proton backlighter side-on radiographs the shock propagation. The capabilities of the platform are presented here. Future experiments will vary shock strength and gas fill, to probe shock conditions at different Z and T_e.

Large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping of vector fields

This paper proposes a method to match diffusion tensor magnetic resonance images (DT-MRIs) through the large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping of vector fields, focusing on the fiber orientations, considered as unit vector fields on the image volume. We study a suitable action of diffeomorphisms on such vector fields, and provide an extension of the Large Deformation Diffeomorphic Metric Mapping framework to this type of dataset, resulting in optimizing for geodesics on the space of diffeomorphisms connecting two images. Existence of the minimizers under smoothness assumptions on the compared vector fields is proved, and coarse to fine hierarchical strategies are detailed, to reduce both ambiguities and computation load. This is illustrated by numerical experiments on DT-MRI heart images.

The TRH-related peptide pyroglutamyglutamylprolinamide is present in human semen

We have recently identified a novel peptide in the rabbit prostate complex which cross-reacts with an antibody to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) and has the structure pGlu-Glu-ProNH2. In the present study, high concentrations of a TRH-related tripeptide and also a polypeptide (10-12 kDa) containing a TRH-immunoreactive peptide at its C-terminus were detected in human semen. The low molecular mass TRH-like peptide and the immunoreactive fragment from the polypeptide were isolated from human semen and shown to have identical structures. Amino acid analysis suggested compositions Glx2, Pro1, and after mild acid hydrolysis, the same sequence, Glu-Glu-Pro, was established for the two peptides. Fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry yielded a pseudomolecular ion (M + H)+ of 355.38 which was identical to that of the synthetic peptide pGlu-Glu-ProNH2. The data demonstrate that human semen contains the TRH-like peptide pyroglutamylglutamylprolinamide and also a polypeptide terminating in the sequence Gln-Glu-ProNH2.

A novel peptide, pyroglutamylglutamylproline amide, in the rabbit prostate complex, structurally related to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone

A novel peptide which cross-reacts with an antibody to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone has been isolated and characterized from the rabbit prostate complex. The peptide exhibited an amino acid composition of Glx1.7, Pro1.0, and automatic gas phase sequence analysis after mild acid hydrolysis established the sequence Glu-Glu-Pro. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry gave a pseudomolecular ion (M + H)+ of 355.2 confirming that the prostate peptide has the structure of pGlu-Glu-Pro-NH2. This peptide differs from authentic thyrotrophin-releasing hormone by the substitution of glutamic acid for histidine at position 2.

Primary structure of protein B from Pseudomonas putida, member of a new class of 2Fe-2S ferredoxins

The primary structure of the 2Fe-2S ferredoxin (protein B) from the benzene dioxygenase system of Pseudomonas putida strain NCIB 12190 was determined by gas-phase sequencing of the protein and its fragments. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry indicated a molecular mass of 11,860 Da. The sequence contained five cysteine residues, four of which would be required to coordinate the iron-sulphur cluster. The amino acid sequence determined in the present study is compared to that of a protein deduced from the DNA sequence from another strain of Pseudomonas putida. Little sequence homology was observed when protein B was compared to 2Fe-2S ferredoxins from plant and cyanobacterial sources. The novel sequence determined here suggests a new class of ferredoxin, which is consistent with the observed mid-point redox potential being significantly less negative (-155 mV) than those of the 2Fe-2S ferredoxins involved in photosynthesis (-310 to -455 mV).

Campylobacter pylori infection in patients undergoing endoscopy in Fiji

Forty two patients (20 Fijian and 22 Indian) presenting for endoscopy at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva, Fiji, were biopsied to detect Campylobacter pylori infection. Detection of the organism's urease activity in biopsy material or seeing the organism in Warthin-Starry silver stained histology sections were used to diagnose infection. Thirty-nine patients (93%) were infected; 19 of 20 Fijians (95%) and 20 of 22 Indians (91%). Of the 39 infected patients, 37 (95%) had chronic active gastritis and 24 (62%) had active peptic ulcer disease. The implications of these findings in relation to the management of endoscopy patients in Fiji are discussed.

Peptic diseases compared endoscopically in indigenous Fijians and Indians

Analysis was undertaken of 693 endoscopies performed in Suva, from July 1984 to June 1986. Although Indians presented more often in the ratio of 5:2, Fijians had a higher percentage of abnormalities. Gastric ulcer and carcinoma were more common in Fijians, whereas duodenal ulcer dominated in Indians. Gastric ulcer size and location showed no racial differences. Erosive disease of the oesophagus, stomach or duodenal bulb was uncommon in both races. Fijians were much more likely to present with bleeding, most commonly from gastric or duodenal ulcer (equal numbers).

Amino acid sequence surrounding the lipoic acid cofactor of bovine kidney 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex

The 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex was succinylated using 2-oxo[5-14C]glutarate in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide to label the lipoic acid cofactor of the transuccinylase (E2) component. Following peptic digestion, 14C-lipoate-containing peptides were purified and subjected to automated Edman degradation and amino acid analysis. The amino acid sequence surrounding the lipoyllysine residue is reported.