Unexplained dissociation pathways of two-body fragmentation of methane dication.

The ion-induced fragmentation of CH4 2+ into H+ and CH3 + is studied using a cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy in coincidence with the charge state of the post-collision projectile. Using constant velocity Ar9+ and N3+, results from four different datasets are presented, with a selection on the final charge state of the projectile (Ar8+ or Ar7+ and N2+ or N+). Three distinct dissociation pathways (I, II, and III) are observed for each dataset, with the mean kinetic energy release values of around 4.7, 5.8, and 7.9 eV, respectively. The electronic states that are populated correspond to electronic configurations (1t2)-2 and (2a1)-1(1t2)-1 of the methane dication, CH4 2+. The relative branching ratios between the three pathways are discussed as a function of the charge state of the post-collision projectile, and a strong correlation with the specific nature of the ion-molecule interaction is found. The existing ab initio calculations have provided an explanation only for pathway II. In this article, we propose an explanation for pathway III, but pathway I still remains unexplained and requires further theoretical efforts. A discussion of the dependence of dissociation on the mode of excitation is presented.

Radiative cooling of cationic carbon clusters, CN+, N = 8, 10, 13-16.

The radiative cooling of highly excited carbon cluster cations of sizes N = 8, 10, 13-16 has been studied in an electrostatic storage ring. The cooling rate constants vary with cluster size from a maximum at N = 8 of 2.6 × 104 s-1 and a minimum at N = 13 of 4.4 × 103 s-1. The high rates indicate that photon emission takes place from electronically excited ions, providing a strong stabilizing cooling of the molecules.

Role of a Neighbor Ion in the Fragmentation Dynamics of Covalent Molecules.

Fragmentation of molecular nitrogen dimers (N_{2})_{2} induced by collision with low energy 90 keV Ar^{9+} ions is studied to evidence the influence of a molecular environment on the fragmentation dynamics of N_{2} cations. Following the capture of three or four electrons from the dimer, the three-body N_{2}^{+}+N^{m+}+N^{n+} [with (m,n)=(1,1) or (1, 2)] fragmentation channels provide clean experimental cases where molecular fragmentation may occur in the presence of a neighbor molecular cation. The effect of the environment on the fragmentation dynamics within the dimer is investigated through the comparison of the kinetic energy release (KER) spectra for these three-body channels and for isolated N_{2}^{(m+n)+} monomer cations. The corresponding KER spectra exhibit energy shifts of the order of 10 eV, attributed to the deformation of the N^{m+}+N^{n+} potential energy curves in the presence of the neighboring N_{2}^{+} cation. The KER structures remain unchanged, indicating that the primary collision process is not significantly affected by the presence of a neighbor molecule.

The timing of worm exclusion in dogs repeatedly infected with the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis.

Experimental Echinococcus multilocularis infection and deworming was repeated three or five times in nine dogs at various re-infection schedules. The mean number of worms decreased more than 91% in dogs with repeated infection, compared to first infection controls (n= 6). The copro-antigen assay and the egg count in the faeces suggested that the worm burden gradually decreased each time the dogs were re-infected. To examine whether such worm exclusion was a non-specific response, five dogs were sequentially infected with the parasite four times and subsequently fed freely for 6 months. Even after the 6-month interval, the five dogs that were infected five times with the parasite were still able largely to exclude the adult worms. The results suggested that the ability of worm exclusion in dogs that developed a resistance did not become rapidly extinct. Observation of the condition of faeces and the excretion of hooks in the faeces of repeatedly infected dogs revealed that the exclusion of worms started at the first week after the re-infection, and it continued during the patent period. Serum antibodies specific to the parasite antigen increased gradually until the third infection and significantly decreased during the 6-month interval. There was little enhancement of serum antibodies after the fifth infection in most dogs, although no clear correlation was observed between the antibody response and the worm burden. These findings suggested the possibility of developing a vaccine.

Interatomic Coulombic decay as a new source of low energy electrons in slow ion-dimer collisions.

We provide the experimental evidence that the single electron capture process in slow collisions between O^{3+} ions and neon dimer targets leads to an unexpected production of low-energy electrons. This production results from the interatomic Coulombic decay process, subsequent to inner-shell single electron capture from one site of the neon dimer. Although pure one-electron capture from the inner shell is expected to be negligible in the low collision energy regime investigated here, the electron production due to this process overtakes by 1 order of magnitude the emission of Auger electrons by the scattered projectiles after double-electron capture. This feature is specific to low charge states of the projectile: similar studies with Xe^{20+} and Ar^{9+} projectiles show no evidence of inner-shell single-electron capture. The dependence of the process on the projectile charge state is interpreted using simple calculations based on the classical over the barrier model.

Atomic site-sensitive processes in low energy ion-dimer collisions.

Electron capture processes for low energy Ar(9+) ions colliding with Ar(2) dimer targets are investigated, focusing attention on charge sharing between the two Ar atoms as a function of the molecular orientation and the impact parameter. A preference for charge-asymmetric dissociation channels is observed, with a strong correlation between the projectile scattering angle and the molecular ion orientation. The measurements here provide clear evidence that projectiles distinguish each atom in the target and that electron capture from near-site atoms is favored. Monte Carlo calculations based on the classical over-the-barrier model, with dimer targets represented as two independent atoms, are compared to the data. They give new insight into the dynamics of the collision by providing, for the different electron capture channels, the two-dimensional probability maps p(b), where b is the impact parameter vector in the molecular frame.

Cooling dynamics of photoexcited C6(-) and C6H(-).

We report conclusive evidence of an efficient cooling mechanism via the electronic radiative transitions of hot small molecular anions isolated in vacuum. We stored C6(-) and C6H(-) in an ion storage ring and observed laser-induced electron detachment with delays up to several milliseconds. The terminal hydrogen atom caused a drastic change in the decay profiles. The decay of photoexcited C6H(-) is slow and nonexponential, which can be explained by depletion cooling, whereas that for C6(-) occurs extremely fast, on a time scale below 0.1 ms and can only be explained by electronic radiative cooling via low-lying electronic excited states.

Radiative cooling of C7⁻.

The spontaneous and photo-induced neutralization of C7⁻ produced in a laser ablation source was measured in an electrostatic storage ring. The measurements provide three independent determinations of the radiative cooling of the ions, based on the short time spontaneous decay and on the integrated amplitude and the shape of the photo-induced neutralization signal. The amplitude of the photo-induced signal was measured between 0.5 ms and 35 ms and found to depend on photon wavelength and ion storage time. All three signals can be reproduced with identical thermal IR radiative cooling rates with oscillator strengths equal to theoretical predictions. In addition, the measurements provide the excitation energy distribution.

Reversible diffusion restriction of the middle cerebellar peduncles and dentate nucleus in acute respiratory syncytial virus cerebellitis: a case report.

Acute cerebellitis is a postinfectious or postvaccinal disorder that predominantly affects children. The typical magnetic resonance imaging appearance has been previously described as cerebellar hemispheric cortical edema. Here, we report a rare case of respiratory syncytial virus-related cerebellitis with transient diffusion restriction of cerebellar peduncles and dentate nucleus. Differential diagnoses are also discussed.

Direct observation of internal energy distributions of C5(-).

Photon induced decay of C5(-) has been measured in an electrostatic storage ring. The time dependence of the photo-enhanced decay is close to a 1∕t decay which indicates a thermal process. The deviation from the expected power of -1 is quantitatively explained by the small heat capacity of the anion. Measurements of the photo-enhanced decay at different storage times and photon energies allow a determination of the radiative cooling rate and the energy distribution of the ions. The average energy content between 15 and 70 ms is found to vary as time to the power -0.72, and at 50 ms the ions contain an average excitation energy of 0.5 eV. The time dependent energy distribution is consistent with cooling by infrared photon emission if published oscillator strengths are reduced by a factor 2.5, in contrast to cooling of larger molecular carbon-based ions where electronic transitions cause a much stronger cooling.

Improved Myelination following Camp Leg Power, a Selective Motor Control Intervention for Children with Spastic Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Diffusion Tensor MRI Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Children with spastic cerebral palsy have motor deficits associated with periventricular leukomalacia indicating WM damage to the corticospinal tracts. We investigated whether practice of skilled lower extremity selective motor control movements would elicit neuroplasticity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy and periventricular leukomalacia born preterm (mean age, 11.5 years; age range, 7.3-16.6 years) participated in a lower extremity selective motor control intervention, Camp Leg Power. Activities promoted isolated joint movement including isokinetic knee exercises, ankle-controlled gaming, gait training, and sensorimotor activities (3 hours/day, 15 sessions, 1 month). DWI scans were collected pre- and postintervention. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to analyze changes in fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and mean diffusivity. RESULTS: Significantly reduced radial diffusivity (P < . 05) was found within corticospinal tract ROIs, including 28.4% of the left and 3.6% of the right posterior limb of the internal capsule and 14.1% of the left superior corona radiata. Reduced mean diffusivity was found within the same ROIs (13.3%, 11.6%, and 6.6%, respectively). Additionally, decreased radial diffusivity was observed in the left primary motor cortex. Additional WM tracts had decreased radial diffusivity and mean diffusivity, including the anterior limb of the internal capsule, external capsule, anterior corona radiata, and corpus callosum body and genu. CONCLUSIONS: Myelination of the corticospinal tracts improved following Camp Leg Power. Neighboring WM changes suggest recruitment of additional tracts involved in regulating neuroplasticity of the motor regions. Intensive practice of skilled lower extremity selective motor control movements promotes neuroplasticity in children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy.

Surgical therapy for multiple sclerosis tremor: a 12-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Severe multiple sclerosis (MS) tremor causes disability poorly responsive to medication. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) or thalamotomy can suppress tremor, but long-term outcomes are unclear. METHODS: Nine patients with MS tremor underwent disability measures at baseline and 12 months post-surgery (six thalamotomy, three DBS) in 1997-1998 (previously reported, Matsumoto et al., Neurology 2001;57:1876-82). We report the prospective 12-year follow-up of this cohort for tremor, disability, and death. RESULTS: Surgery was initially successful in all. Tremor recurred in all patients within median 3 months, although two DBS patients were tremor-free for 5 years. Median tremor-free survival (tremor-free time/survival time) was 4.3%. At 12-year follow-up, four survivors (two thalamotomy, two DBS) (Expanded Disability Status Scale scores 8-8.5) were severely disabled. Five patients were dead (four thalamotomy, one DBS) median 5.8 years post-operative. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery benefit for severe tremor was overall short-lived (median 3 months), with long-term poor prognosis. Although two DBS patients had sustained 5-year tremor-suppression, the observed progressive disability and death in this cohort bear importance for long-term success in future MS tremor surgery trials.

Coprological survey of alimentary tract parasites in dogs from Zambia and evaluation of a coproantigen assay for canine echinococcosis.

Faecal samples were collected from the rectum of 540 domestic dogs from four districts (Lusaka, Katete, Petauke and Luangwa) in Zambia between 2005 and 2006 and prevalences of canine alimentary tract parasites were determined by coprological examination. Thirteen different ova and parasites including strongyle (43.3%), Spirocerca lupi (18.7%), taeniid (13.1%), Toxocara canis (7.6%), Sarcocystis sp.* (7.5%), Isospora sp.* (5.7%), Physaloptera sp.* (4.6%), Capillaria sp.* (2.8%), Dipylidium caninum (2.2%), Mesocestoides sp.* (2.0%), Ascaris sp.* (1.7%), Trichuris vulpis* (0.4%) and Schistosoma mansoni* (0.4%) were detected, Ascaris and Schistosoma probably originating from coprophagy. The species with asterisks and later-described Taenia multiceps are for the first time reported from dogs in Zambia. A coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CoproAg-ELISA) developed for Echinococcus spp. revealed 43 positive dogs and 37 of these harboured taeniid eggs. From 63 of the 71 taeniid egg-positive samples, eggs and DNA thereof were isolated and subjected to a multiplex polymerase chain reaction for differentiating E. granulosus sensu lato, E. multilocularis and Taenia spp. Amplicons indicative for Taenia spp. were obtained from 60 samples. Sequencing of amplicons spanning part of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene, which was possible with 38 samples, revealed 35 infections with T. hydatigena and 3 with T. multiceps. Therefore, the CoproAg-ELISA showed some positives, but concrete evidence for the existence of canine E. granulosus infection could not be established. Comparison of the results of the CoproAg-ELISA and Taenia species identification indicated that the CoproAg-ELISA cross-reacts with patent infections of T. hydatigena (57%) and T. multiceps (33%).

Neonatal non-ketotic hyperglycinemia.

The typical imaging findings of neonatal non-ketotic hyperglycinemia have rarely been described in the radiologic literature with only few individual cases or small series reported. In this article, we present a case of neonatal onset non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, imaged at 6 days of age, and discuss characteristic MRI and MR spectroscopic findings.

Selective Motor Control is a Clinical Correlate of Brain Motor Tract Impairment in Children with Spastic Bilateral Cerebral Palsy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Selective voluntary motor control is an important factor influencing gross motor function, interjoint coordination, and the outcome of hamstring-lengthening surgery in spastic cerebral palsy. Using DTI, we investigated whether selective voluntary motor control would show strong correlations with WM motor tract microstructure and whether selective voluntary motor control is more sensitive to global WM impairment than gross motor function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy born preterm and typically developing children were recruited. The Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE) and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) were assessed in participants with cerebral palsy. Participants underwent brain MR imaging to collect DWI data. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to analyze the WM for between-group differences and correlations with SCALE and GMFM. ROI analyses compared motor regions. RESULTS: Twelve children with cerebral palsy (mean age, 11.5 years) and 12 typically developing children (mean age, 10.3 years) participated. Altered DTI outcomes were found throughout the whole brain for the cerebral palsy group. SCALE, developed to evaluate selective voluntary motor control in cerebral palsy, showed significant positive correlations with fractional anisotropy in more WM voxels throughout the whole brain and for motor regions, including the corticospinal tract and corpus callosum, compared with GMFM. A significant negative correlation between radial diffusivity and SCALE, but not GMFM, was found within the corpus callosum. CONCLUSIONS: SCALE was a more sensitive clinical correlate of motor and whole-brain WM tract impairment in children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy, suggesting greater anisotropy and myelination in these regions for those with higher selective voluntary motor control.

Transcriptome analysis of nicotine-exposed cells from the brainstem of neonate spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Kyoto rats.

In this study, the effects of nicotine on global gene expression of cultured cells from the brainstem of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were evaluated using whole-genome oligoarrays. We found that nicotine may act differentially on the gene expression profiles of SHR and WKY. The influence of strain was present in 321 genes that were differentially expressed in SHR as compared with WKY brainstem cells independently of the nicotine treatment. A total of 146 genes had their expression altered in both strains after nicotine exposure. Interaction between nicotine treatment and the strain was observed to affect the expression of 229 genes that participate in cellular pathways related to neurotransmitter secretion, intracellular trafficking and cell communication, and are possibly involved in the phenotypic differentiation between SHR and WKY rats, including hypertension. Further characterization of their function in hypertension development is warranted.

Asymmetry in multiple-electron capture revealed by radiative charge transfer in Ar dimers.

We measured kinetic energies of the fragment ions of argon dimers multiply ionized by low-energy Ar(9+) collisions. For (Ar2)(4+) dissociation, the asymmetric channel (Ar(3+) + Ar(+)) yield is found unexpectedly higher than the symmetric channel (Ar(2+) + Ar(2+)) yield in contrast with previous observation for covalent molecules or clusters. For the dissociation channel (Ar2)(2+)→Ar(+) + Ar(+), two well-separated peaks were observed, clearly evidencing that the direct Coulombic dissociation and the radiative charge transfer followed by ionic dissociation alternatively occur for the dicationic dimers. The respective intensity of these two peaks provides a direct mean to unravel the respective proportion of one-site and two-site double-electron capture, which are found equal for this collision system.

Adenosine A1 and A2a receptors modulate the nitrergic system in cell culture from dorsomedial medulla oblongata.

Adenosine and nitric oxide act on the fine-tuning regulation of neural cardiovascular control in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). Although the interaction between adenosine and NO is well known in the periphery, the mechanisms by which adenosine interferes in the dynamics of nitrergic neurotransmission, related to neural control of circulation, are not completely understood and might be relevant for individuals predisposed to hypertension. In this study we evaluate the interaction between adenosinergic and nitrergic systems in cell culture from the dorsomedial medulla oblongata of Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Using quantification of nitrite levels, RT-PCR analysis and RNA interference we demonstrate that adenosine A1 (A1R) and A2a receptor (A2aR) agonists induce a concentration-dependent decrease and increase of nitrite and nNOS mRNA levels in cultured cells from WKY and SHR, respectively. These effects in nitrite levels are attenuated by the administration of A1R and A2aR selective antagonists, CPT and ZM 241385. Furthermore, knockdown of A1R and A2aR show an increase and decrease of nNOS mRNA levels, respectively. Pretreatment with the nonselective inhibitor of NOS, L-NAME, abolishes nitrite-increased levels triggered by CGS 21680 in WKY and SHR cells. Finally, it is shown that the cAMP-PKA pathway is involved in A1R and A2aR-mediated decrease and increase in nitrite levels in SHR and WKY cells. Our results highlight the influence of adenosine on nitric oxide levels in cultured cells from dorsal medulla oblongata of neonate WKY and SHR rats. In part, the modulatory profile is different in the SHR strain.

Absolute cooling rates of freely decaying fullerenes.

The cooling rates of C60- have been measured in an electrostatic storage ring between several hundred mus and several tens of ms with one-photon laser excitation. The absolute energy scale is established by the photon energy, and the cooling time interval is derived from the nonexponential decay of the ensemble of hot molecules. The energy decreases due to the combined action of depletion and thermal emission of IR photons with a total energy loss rate that varies inversely proportional to time, 0.9 eV/t. The radiative component decreases from a few hundred eV/s at submillisecond time scales to several tens of eV/s at 20 ms and confirms that the crossover from depletion to predominantly radiative cooling occurs around 5 ms. The method is applicable to any large molecule or cluster which decays spontaneously, irrespective of the specific decay channel.

Morphological and biochemical characterization of goldfish erythrophores and their pterinosomes.

The fine structure of integumental erythrophores and the intracellular location of pteridine and carotenoid pigments in adult goldfish, Carassius auratus, were studied by means of cytochemistry, paper and thin-layer chromatography, ionophoresis, density-gradient centrifugal fractionation, and electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of erythrophores is characterized by large numbers of somewhat ellipsoidal pigment granules and a well-developed system of tubules which resembles endoplasmic reticulum. The combined morphological and biochemical approaches show that pteridine pigments of erythrophores are located characteristically in pigment granules and are the primary yellow pigments of these organelles. Accordingly, this organelle is considered to be the "pterinosome" which was originally found in swordtail erythrophores. Major pteridines obtainable from goldfish pterinosomes are sepiapterin, 7-hydroxybiopterin, isoxanthopterin, and 6-carboxyisoxanthopterin. Density-gradient fractions indicate that carotenoids are mostly associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. Both tyrosinase and possibly a tyrosinase inhibitor containing sulfhydryl groups are present in the pterinosome. The possible existence of a tyrosinase inhibitor is suggested by the marked increase of tyrosinase activity upon the addition of iodoacetamide or p-chloromercuribenzoic acid. In the light of their fine structure, pigmentary composition, and enzymatic properties, the erythrophores and pterinosomes are discussed with respect to their probable functions and their relationship to melanophores.