Luminescence and thermoluminescence induced by bombardment with protons of 159 million electron volts

We have observed a red luminescence, qualitatively similar to that of enstatite achondrites, in unsorted fines, their separated mineral phases, and rock chips. The energy efficiency of the plagioclase fraction is approximately 1 percent. At -196 degrees C the effect is enhanced by a factor between 1 and 2. All fractions except ilmenite exhibit blue thermoluminescence with a glow peak near -135 degrees C and an energy efficiency approximately 4 x 10(-6). Unlike the thermoluminescence of terrestrial and meteoritic material, it is nonrepeatable even after annealing at 200 degrees C. Similar thermoluminescence is seen in rock chips, but in unsorted fines it is masked by the opaque fractions.     

Amino Acid Composition of Hemerythrin in Relation to Subunit Structure

Determination of the amino acid composition of coelomic hemerythrin from Golfingia gouldii shows 3 arginine residues and 10 to 11 lysine residues per protein subunit of 13,500 molecular weight. On this basis, the 28 to 30 major peptide spots revealed by electrophoresis and chromatography of tryptic hydrolysates would indicate two kinds of subunit. However, similar evidence from chymotryptic hydrolyses is not unequivocal, since the number of peptide spots is also compatible with an assumption of only one kind of chain. In addition to indicating the possible existence of two types of subunit, the peptide maps of enzymic digests of hemerythrin from individual animals shows at least one and perhaps more differences in peptide composition.     

Outbreaks of pythiosis in two flocks of sheep in northeastern Brazil

Two outbreaks of cutaneous pythiosis caused by Pythium insidiosum were diagnosed in two herds of crossbred hair wool sheep of different ages in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil. In one herd of 120 sheep, 40 were affected. The other outbreak affected six sheep out of 80. Local swellings with ulcerative lesions were observed in the limbs and abdominal and prescapular regions. Three sheep were necropsied. Two of them had lung metastasis characterized by multifocal nodules measuring 0.5-2 cm. In one animal, the prescapular lymph node was also affected. In another, the cutaneous lesion extended to the sesamoid bone. Microscopically, there were multifocal granulomas with intralesional P. insidiosum hyphae and Splendore-Hoeppli material surrounding the hyphae. The diagnosis was based on the histologic lesions, immunohistochemical identification, and culture of the etiologic agent. One sheep treated with potassium iodide recovered. Standing in swampy water for long periods in a warm aquatic environment seems to be the reason for the high prevalence of the disease.     

Electron vortex beams with high quanta of orbital angular momentum

Electron beams with helical wavefronts carrying orbital angular momentum are expected to provide new capabilities for electron microscopy and other applications. We used nanofabricated diffraction holograms in an electron microscope to produce multiple electron vortex beams with well-defined topological charge. Beams carrying quantized amounts of orbital angular momentum (up to 100?) per electron were observed. We describe how the electrons can exhibit such orbital motion in free space in the absence of any confining potential or external field, and discuss how these beams can be applied to improved electron microscopy of magnetic and biological specimens.     

A whole-genome assembly of Drosophila

We report on the quality of a whole-genome assembly of Drosophila melanogaster and the nature of the computer algorithms that accomplished it. Three independent external data sources essentially agree with and support the assembly's sequence and ordering of contigs across the euchromatic portion of the genome. In addition, there are isolated contigs that we believe represent nonrepetitive pockets within the heterochromatin of the centromeres. Comparison with a previously sequenced 2.9- megabase region indicates that sequencing accuracy within nonrepetitive segments is greater than 99. 99% without manual curation. As such, this initial reconstruction of the Drosophila sequence should be of substantial value to the scientific community.     

Pinpointing the source of a lunar meteorite: implications for the evolution of the Moon

The lunar meteorite Sayh al Uhaymir 169 consists of an impact melt breccia extremely enriched with potassium, rare earth elements, and phosphorus [thorium, 32.7 parts per million (ppm); uranium, 8.6 ppm; potassium oxide, 0.54 weight percent], and adherent regolith. The isotope systematics of the meteorite record four lunar impact events at 3909 +/- 13 million years ago (Ma), approximately 2800 Ma, approximately 200 Ma, and <0.34 Ma, and collision with Earth sometime after 9.7 +/- 1.3 thousand years ago. With these data, we can link the impact-melt breccia to Imbrium and pinpoint the source region of the meteorite to the Lalande impact crater.     

Fracture propagation to the base of the Greenland Ice Sheet during supraglacial lake drainage

Surface meltwater that reaches the base of an ice sheet creates a mechanism for the rapid response of ice flow to climate change. The process whereby such a pathway is created through thick, cold ice has not, however, been previously observed. We describe the rapid (<2 hours) drainage of a large supraglacial lake down 980 meters through to the bed of the Greenland Ice Sheet initiated by water-driven fracture propagation evolving into moulin flow. Drainage coincided with increased seismicity, transient acceleration, ice-sheet uplift, and horizontal displacement. Subsidence and deceleration occurred over the subsequent 24 hours. The short-lived dynamic response suggests that an efficient drainage system dispersed the meltwater subglacially. The integrated effect of multiple lake drainages could explain the observed net regional summer ice speedup.     

Effect of orange juice's processing on the color, particle size, and bioaccessibility of carotenoids

This study was aimed at assessing the differences between industrially processed and hand-squeezed orange juices (OJs) in relation to their color, particle size, carotenoid content, and carotenoid bioaccessibility. Specifically, industrial samples of fresh squeezed OJs after the finishing steps (FISO) and the same OJs after pasteurization (PISO), as well as hand-squeezed OJs (HSO) were studied. The results showed that the HSO and PISO were different (p < 0.05) in terms of color (darker and more reddish vs brighter, more yellowish and colorful), particle size (volume and surface area mean diameter), and total carotenoid content (29 ± 5 and 22 ± 3 mg/L, respectively). On the other hand, the industrial extraction of OJs reduced the particle size distribution, and accordingly, the relative bioaccessibility of bioactive carotenoids increased (p < 0.01). Independently of the type of OJ, the bioaccessibility of carotenoids in decreasing order was the following: α-carotene > β-cryptoxanthin > β-carotene > zeaxanthin > lutein.     

Fruit and vegetable consumption and self-reported functional health in men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk): a population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and self-reported physical and mental functional health measured by an anglicised short-form 36-item questionnaire (UK SF-36). DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: General community in Norfolk, UK. SUBJECTS: A total of 16,792 men and women aged 40-79 years recruited from general practice population registers as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk study, who completed food-frequency questionnaires in 1993-1997 and Health and Life Experiences Questionnaires 18 months later, were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Mean SF-36 physical component summary scores increased significantly with increasing total fruit and vegetable consumption in both men and women (P < 0.0001 for trend). Men and women in the top quartile of consumption compared with the bottom quartile had a significantly higher likelihood of reporting good physical health (defined as a score > or = 55); odds ratio (OR) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.53 for men and OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.11-1.48 for women, after controlling for age, body mass index, smoking, education, social class, prevalent illness and total energy intake. Exclusion of current smokers and people with prevalent illness did not alter the associations. CONCLUSION: Higher fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with better self-reported physical functional health within a general population. Increasing daily intake by two portions of fruit and vegetables was associated with an 11% higher likelihood of good functional health. Since the current average consumption of fruit and vegetables in the UK is about three portions, the recommended 'five a day' strategy may have additional benefit for functional as well as other health outcomes in the population.