First Dark Matter Search Results from the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Experiment.

The LUX-ZEPLIN experiment is a dark matter detector centered on a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota, USA. This Letter reports results from LUX-ZEPLIN's first search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with an exposure of 60 live days using a fiducial mass of 5.5 t. A profile-likelihood ratio analysis shows the data to be consistent with a background-only hypothesis, setting new limits on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon, spin-dependent WIMP-neutron, and spin-dependent WIMP-proton cross sections for WIMP masses above 9 GeV/c^{2}. The most stringent limit is set for spin-independent scattering at 36 GeV/c^{2}, rejecting cross sections above 9.2×10^{-48} cm at the 90% confidence level.

Results of a Search for Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using 2013 LUX Data.

The scattering of dark matter (DM) particles with sub-GeV masses off nuclei is difficult to detect using liquid xenon-based DM search instruments because the energy transfer during nuclear recoils is smaller than the typical detector threshold. However, the tree-level DM-nucleus scattering diagram can be accompanied by simultaneous emission of a bremsstrahlung photon or a so-called "Migdal" electron. These provide an electron recoil component to the experimental signature at higher energies than the corresponding nuclear recoil. The presence of this signature allows liquid xenon detectors to use both the scintillation and the ionization signals in the analysis where the nuclear recoil signal would not be otherwise visible. We report constraints on spin-independent DM-nucleon scattering for DM particles with masses of 0.4-5 GeV/c^{2} using 1.4×10^{4} kg day of search exposure from the 2013 data from the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment for four different classes of mediators. This analysis extends the reach of liquid xenon-based DM search instruments to lower DM masses than has been achieved previously.

First Searches for Axions and Axionlike Particles with the LUX Experiment.

The first searches for axions and axionlike particles with the Large Underground Xenon experiment are presented. Under the assumption of an axioelectric interaction in xenon, the coupling constant between axions and electrons g_{Ae} is tested using data collected in 2013 with an exposure totaling 95 live days ×118 kg. A double-sided, profile likelihood ratio statistic test excludes g_{Ae} larger than 3.5×10^{-12} (90% C.L.) for solar axions. Assuming the Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnitsky theoretical description, the upper limit in coupling corresponds to an upper limit on axion mass of 0.12 eV/c^{2}, while for the Kim-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zhakharov description masses above 36.6 eV/c^{2} are excluded. For galactic axionlike particles, values of g_{Ae} larger than 4.2×10^{-13} are excluded for particle masses in the range 1-16 keV/c^{2}. These are the most stringent constraints to date for these interactions.

Limits on Spin-Dependent WIMP-Nucleon Cross Section Obtained from the Complete LUX Exposure.

We present experimental constraints on the spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon elastic cross sections from the total 129.5 kg yr exposure acquired by the Large Underground Xenon experiment (LUX), operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota (USA). A profile likelihood ratio analysis allows 90% C.L. upper limits to be set on the WIMP-neutron (WIMP-proton) cross section of σ_{n}=1.6×10^{-41} cm^{2} (σ_{p}=5×10^{-40} cm^{2}) at 35 GeV c^{-2}, almost a sixfold improvement over the previous LUX spin-dependent results. The spin-dependent WIMP-neutron limit is the most sensitive constraint to date.

Results from a Search for Dark Matter in the Complete LUX Exposure.

We report constraints on spin-independent weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP)-nucleon scattering using a 3.35×10^{4} kg day exposure of the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment. A dual-phase xenon time projection chamber with 250 kg of active mass is operated at the Sanford Underground Research Facility under Lead, South Dakota (USA). With roughly fourfold improvement in sensitivity for high WIMP masses relative to our previous results, this search yields no evidence of WIMP nuclear recoils. At a WIMP mass of 50 GeV c^{-2}, WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross sections above 2.2×10^{-46} cm^{2} are excluded at the 90% confidence level. When combined with the previously reported LUX exposure, this exclusion strengthens to 1.1×10^{-46} cm^{2} at 50 GeV c^{-2}.

Improved Limits on Scattering of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles from Reanalysis of 2013 LUX Data.

We present constraints on weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP)-nucleus scattering from the 2013 data of the Large Underground Xenon dark matter experiment, including 1.4×10^{4} kg day of search exposure. This new analysis incorporates several advances: single-photon calibration at the scintillation wavelength, improved event-reconstruction algorithms, a revised background model including events originating on the detector walls in an enlarged fiducial volume, and new calibrations from decays of an injected tritium ß source and from kinematically constrained nuclear recoils down to 1.1 keV. Sensitivity, especially to low-mass WIMPs, is enhanced compared to our previous results which modeled the signal only above a 3 keV minimum energy. Under standard dark matter halo assumptions and in the mass range above 4 GeV c^{-2}, these new results give the most stringent direct limits on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section. The 90% C.L. upper limit has a minimum of 0.6 zb at 33 GeV c^{-2} WIMP mass.

Results on the Spin-Dependent Scattering of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles on Nucleons from the Run 3 Data of the LUX Experiment.

We present experimental constraints on the spin-dependent WIMP (weakly interacting massive particle)-nucleon elastic cross sections from LUX data acquired in 2013. LUX is a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota), which is designed to observe the recoil signature of galactic WIMPs scattering from xenon nuclei. A profile likelihood ratio analysis of 1.4×10^{4} kg day of fiducial exposure allows 90% C.L. upper limits to be set on the WIMP-neutron (WIMP-proton) cross section of σ_{n}=9.4×10^{-41} cm^{2} (σ_{p}=2.9×10^{-39} cm^{2}) at 33 GeV/c^{2}. The spin-dependent WIMP-neutron limit is the most sensitive constraint to date.

First results from the LUX dark matter experiment at the Sanford underground research facility.

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment is a dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota). The LUX cryostat was filled for the first time in the underground laboratory in February 2013. We report results of the first WIMP search data set, taken during the period from April to August 2013, presenting the analysis of 85.3 live days of data with a fiducial volume of 118 kg. A profile-likelihood analysis technique shows our data to be consistent with the background-only hypothesis, allowing 90% confidence limits to be set on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering with a minimum upper limit on the cross section of 7.6 × 10(-46) cm(2) at a WIMP mass of 33 GeV/c(2). We find that the LUX data are in disagreement with low-mass WIMP signal interpretations of the results from several recent direct detection experiments.

Limits on the spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections from the first science run of the ZEPLIN-III experiment.

We present new experimental constraints on the WIMP-nucleon spin-dependent elastic cross sections using data from the first science run of ZEPLIN-III, a two-phase xenon experiment searching for galactic dark matter weakly interacting massive particles based at the Boulby mine. Analysis of approximately 450 kg x days fiducial exposure allow us to place a 90%-confidence upper limit on the pure WIMP-neutron cross section of sigma(n)=1.9x10(-2) pb at 55 GeV/c(2) WIMP mass. Recent calculations of the nuclear spin structure based on the Bonn charge-dependent nucleon-nucleon potential were used for the odd-neutron isotopes 129Xe and 131Xe. These indicate that the sensitivity of xenon targets to the spin-dependent WIMP-proton interaction could be much lower than implied by previous calculations, whereas the WIMP-neutron sensitivity is impaired only by a factor of approximately 2.

Zooplankton community dynamics in relation to the seasonal cycle and nutrient inputs in an urban tropical estuary in Brazil / Dinâmica da comunidade zooplanctônica em relação a um ciclo sazonal e aportes de nutrientes em um estuário urbano tropical no Brasil

Micro- and mesozooplankton were studied in the Sergipe estuary, northeastern Brazil, in order to assess the temporal variability in abundance and biodiversity under stressed conditions (urban pollution). Zooplankton samples and abiotic data were collected at one station during a full tidal cycle in July 2001 and in February 2002, corresponding to the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. The salinity regime was euhaline-polyhaline. Phosphate and dissolved oxygen were higher in July 2001, and nitrite, nitrate and ammonia in February 2002. Chlorophyll-a concentrations were low as a result of light limitation, with 1.18 ± 0.88 µg.m-3 in February and 1.53 ± 1.48 µg.m-3 in July. Fifty-nine zooplankton taxa were identified. Microzooplankton were abundant, mainly the tintinnid Favella ehrenbergii, and ranged from 18,649 ind.m-3 in July to 678,009 ind.m-3 in February. Mesozooplankton ranged from 1,537 ind.m-3 in July to 37,062 ind.m-3 in February and were dominated by barnacle nauplii in July and by copepods in February. The cluster analysis by taxa revealed the existence of three distinct groups: resilient species, characteristic of estuarine areas and occurring during all the year; species mainly more abundant in July (indicators of a healthier environmental condition); and species more abundant in February (tolerant to poor water quality).

O micro-e o mesozooplâncton foram estudados no estuário do rio Sergipe, Nordeste do Brasil para conhecer a variação temporal em abundância e biodiversidade sob condições de estresse. Amostras do zooplâncton e dados abióticos foram coletados em uma estação durante um ciclo completo de marés em julho de 2001 e em fevereiro de 2002, correspondendo aos períodos chuvoso e seco, respectivamente. O regime de salinidade variou de euhalino a polihalino. O fosfato e o oxigênio dissolvidos foram mais elevados em julho 2001, e o nitrito, o nitrato e a amônia, em fevereiro 2002. As concentrações de clorofila-a foram baixas devido à limitação da luz, com valores médios de 1,18 ± 0,88 µg.m-3 em fevereiro e 1,53 ± 1,48 µg.m-3 em julho. Foram identificados 59 taxa zooplanctônicos. O microzooplâncton foi abundante, principalmente o tintinídeo Favella ehrenbergii, que variou de 18.649 ind.m-3 em julho a 678.009 ind.m-3 em fevereiro. O mesozooplâncton variou de 1.537 ind.m-3 em julho a 37.062 ind.m-3 em fevereiro e foi dominado por náuplios de Cirripedia em julho e por Copepoda em fevereiro. A análise de agrupamento por taxa revelou a existência de três grupos: espécies resilientes, características de áreas estuarinas de ocorrência contínua; espécies que dominaram em julho (indicadores de uma melhor condição ambiental); e espécies mais abundantes em fevereiro (tolerantes à baixa qualidade da água).

Zooplankton community dynamics in relation to the seasonal cycle and nutrient inputs in an urban tropical estuary in Brazil.

Micro- and mesozooplankton were studied in the Sergipe estuary, northeastern Brazil, in order to assess the temporal variability in abundance and biodiversity under stressed conditions (urban pollution). Zooplankton samples and abiotic data were collected at one station during a full tidal cycle in July 2001 and in February 2002, corresponding to the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. The salinity regime was euhaline-polyhaline. Phosphate and dissolved oxygen were higher in July 2001, and nitrite, nitrate and ammonia in February 2002. Chlorophyll-a concentrations were low as a result of light limitation, with 1.18 +/- 0.88 microg x m(-3) in February and 1.53 +/- 1.48 microg x m(-3) in July. Fifty-nine zooplankton taxa were identified. Microzooplankton were abundant, mainly the tintinnid Favella ehrenbergii, and ranged from 18,649 ind x m(-3) in July to 678,009 ind x m(-3) in February. Mesozooplankton ranged from 1,537 ind x m(-3) in July to 37,062 ind x m(-3) in February and were dominated by barnacle nauplii in July and by copepods in February. The cluster analysis by taxa revealed the existence of three distinct groups: resilient species, characteristic of estuarine areas and occurring during all the year; species mainly more abundant in July (indicators of a healthier environmental condition); and species more abundant in February (tolerant to poor water quality).

The maternal JAK/STAT pathway of Drosophila regulates embryonic dorsal-ventral patterning

Activation of NFkappaB plays a pivotal role in many cellular processes such as inflammation, proliferation and apoptosis. In Drosophila, nuclear translocation of the NFkappaB-related transcription factor Dorsal is spatially regulated in order to subdivide the embryo into three primary dorsal-ventral (DV) domains: the ventral presumptive mesoderm, the lateral neuroectoderm and the dorsal ectoderm. Ventral activation of the Toll receptor induces degradation of the IkappaB-related inhibitor Cactus, liberating Dorsal for nuclear translocation. In addition, other pathways have been suggested to regulate Dorsal. Signaling through the maternal BMP member Decapentaplegic (Dpp) inhibits Dorsal translocation along a pathway parallel to and independent of Toll. In the present study, we show for the first time that the maternal JAK/STAT pathway also regulates embryonic DV patterning. Null alleles of loci coding for elements of the JAK/STAT pathway, hopscotch (hop), marelle (mrl) and zimp (zimp), modify zygotic expression along the DV axis. Genetic analysis suggests that the JAK kinase Hop, most similar to vertebrate JAK2, may modify signals downstream of Dpp. In addition, an activated form of Hop results in increased levels of Cactus and Dorsal proteins, modifying the Dorsal/Cactus ratio and consequently DV patterning. These results indicate that different maternal signals mediated by the Toll, BMP and JAK/STAT pathways may converge to regulate NFkappaB activity in Drosophila.

The maternal JAK/STAT pathway of Drosophila regulates embryonic dorsal-ventral patterning.

Activation of NFkappaB plays a pivotal role in many cellular processes such as inflammation, proliferation and apoptosis. In Drosophila, nuclear translocation of the NFkappaB-related transcription factor Dorsal is spatially regulated in order to subdivide the embryo into three primary dorsal-ventral (DV) domains: the ventral presumptive mesoderm, the lateral neuroectoderm and the dorsal ectoderm. Ventral activation of the Toll receptor induces degradation of the IkappaB-related inhibitor Cactus, liberating Dorsal for nuclear translocation. In addition, other pathways have been suggested to regulate Dorsal. Signaling through the maternal BMP member Decapentaplegic (Dpp) inhibits Dorsal translocation along a pathway parallel to and independent of Toll. In the present study, we show for the first time that the maternal JAK/STAT pathway also regulates embryonic DV patterning. Null alleles of loci coding for elements of the JAK/STAT pathway, hopscotch (hop), marelle (mrl) and zimp (zimp), modify zygotic expression along the DV axis. Genetic analysis suggests that the JAK kinase Hop, most similar to vertebrate JAK2, may modify signals downstream of Dpp. In addition, an activated form of Hop results in increased levels of Cactus and Dorsal proteins, modifying the Dorsal/Cactus ratio and consequently DV patterning. These results indicate that different maternal signals mediated by the Toll, BMP and JAK/STAT pathways may converge to regulate NFkappaB activity in Drosophila.

A new species of Acusicola Cressey (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) from northeastern Brazil.

A new species of Acusicola is described based on adults of both sexes taken from plankton samples collected in the upper reaches of the Piauí River estuary, in the northeast of Brazil. Ovigerous females were present in the plankton. The new species, Acusicola minuta n. sp., can be distinguished from its congeners by its small body size, female antennal morphology and leg setation. The male described here as A. minuta n. sp. is the first known male attributed to the genus.

Depolymerization of macrophage microfilaments prevents induction and inhibits activity of nitric oxide synthase.

We have investigated the relationship between peritoneal murine macrophage cytoskeleton and nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS). Activation of the cells with lipopolysaccharide plus interferon-gamma (LI) induced iNOS, detected by nitrite or by labeled L-citrulline production and by a specific antibody against macrophage iNOS. Addition of cytochalasin B (a microfilament-depolymerizing agent) caused a dose-dependent inhibition in NO production by macrophages, whereas colchicine (a microtubule depolymerizing agent) inhibited it only by 20% and not dose-dependently. Addition of cytochalasin B together with LI abolished nitrite and L-citrulline accumulation as well as the amount of iNOS antigen in activated macrophage. Moreover, addition of cytochalasin B 6 or 12 h after stimulus, also decreased the nitrite and L-citrulline production by macrophages although iNOS antigen content by Western blot was the same in the presence or in the absence of cytochalasin B added 12 h after activation. Since cytochalasin B failed to inhibit iNOS activity directly, its inhibitory effects on NO production by macrophages is likely to be indirect, through microfilament network in central regions of cells, but not in filaments seen at pseudopodia or edging processes. Our findings demonstrate that disruption of microfilaments but not of microtubules prevents the iNOS induction process and inhibits its enzymatic activity in activated macrophages.

Determination of apovincaminic acid in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the quantitative analysis of low concentrations of apovincaminic acid (AVA) in blood plasma. AVA, interfering plasma components and primidone (used as the internal standard) were separated on a reversed-phase column of LiChrospher 60 RP-Select B (125 mm x 3 mm i.d.; 5 microns) (Merck). A UV-Vis detector was used at a wavelength of 254 nm. Each chromatographic separation was completed in 14 min and the results showed a relative recovery which varied between 95.9 and 116%, a good overall precision (relative standard deviation, 7.00%) and sensitivity over a linear range of 5.00-300 ng ml-1 (R = 0.999) for AVA in plasma. The method was applied to the analysis of plasma samples obtained from healthy subjects treated with one single oral dose of 20 mg of vinpocetine. The results indicate the method to be suitable for pharmacokinetic studies.

Endogenous phosphorylation of tau proteins in brain slices.

Tau protein phosphorylation has been implicated as a main process that regulates microtubule dynamics. A large number of tau isoforms is generated by phosphorylation through the action of a diversity of kinases. We have analysed variations in tau phosphorylation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, where a great heterogeneity of isoforms can be detected. Using mouse brain slices from various developmental stages we have found preferential phosphorylation of low molecular weight tau isoforms in all the ages analysed. A greater isoform diversity was found in juvenile than in adult brain. Brain slices provide a tightly regulated environment that preserves cell compartmentalization and has shown to be very useful for studies on tau phosphorylation.

Abnormal proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease following administration of human pituitary growth hormone.

A Brazilian case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a hypopituitary patient who had received cadaver-derived human pituitary growth hormone between 1968 and 1977 is reported. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed during his lifetime by the demonstration of two abnormal 30-kDa proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. These proteins, characteristic of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, present isoelectric points of 5.1 and 5.2. Furthermore, both proteins migrate as doublets, each one displaying a molecular weight variant of about 29-kDa. This is one of 16 cases of the disease associated to therapy with cadaver-derived human growth hormone and one of the few examples among such cases of confirmation of the clinical diagnosis by biochemical characterization of abnormal proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Abnormal proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease following administration of human pituitary growth hormone

A Brazilian case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a hypopituitary patient who had received cadaver-derived human pituitary growth hormone between 1968 and 1977 is reported. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed during his lifetime by the demonstration of two abnormal 30-kDa proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. These proteins, characteristic of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, present isoelectric points of 5.1 and 5.2. Furthermore, both proteins migrate as doublets, each one displaying a molecular weight variant of about 29-kDa. This is one of 16 cases of the disease associated to therapy with cadaver-derived human growth hormone and one of the few examples among such cases of confirmation of the clinical diagnosis by biochemical characterization of abnormal proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid