Norm Principles for Forms of Higher Degree Permitting Composition

Let F be a field of characteristic 0 or greater than d. Scharlau's norm principle holds for finite field extensions K over F, for certain forms ? of degree d over F which permit composition.     

Efficient above-band-gap light emission in germanium

We report an above-band-gap radiative transition in the photoluminescence spectra of single crystalline Ge in the temperature range of 20-296 K. The temperature-independence of the peak position at -0.74 eV is remarkably different from the behavior of direct and indirect gap transitions in Ge. This transition is observed in n-type, p-type, and intrinsic single crystal Ge alike, and its intensity decreases with the increase of temperature with a small activation energy of 56 meV. Some aspects of the transition are analogous to III-V semiconductors with dilute nitrogen doping, which suggests that the origin could be related to an isoelectronic defect.     

In Vitro and Clinical Evaluation of Cannabigerol (CBG) Produced via Yeast Biosynthesis: A Cannabinoid with a Broad Range of Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Health-Boosting Properties

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a minor non-psychoactive cannabinoid present in Cannabis sativa L. (C. sativa) at low levels (<1% per dry weight) that serves as the direct precursor to both cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Consequently, efforts to extract and purify CBG from C. sativa is both challenging and expensive. However, utilizing a novel yeast fermentation technology platform, minor cannabinoids such as CBG can be produced in a more sustainable, cost-effective, and timely process as compared to plant-based production. While CBD has been studied extensively, demonstrating several beneficial skin properties, there are a paucity of studies characterizing the activity of CBG in human skin. Therefore, our aim was to characterize and compare the in vitro activity profile of non-psychoactive CBG and CBD in skin and be the first group to test CBG clinically on human skin. Gene microarray analysis conducted using 3D human skin equivalents demonstrates that CBG regulates more genes than CBD, including several key skin targets. Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) were exposed in culture to pro-inflammatory inducers to trigger cytokine production and oxidative stress. Results demonstrate that CBG and CBD reduce reactive oxygen species levels in HDFs better than vitamin C. Moreover, CBG inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine (Interleukin-1β, -6, -8, tumor necrosis factor α) release from several inflammatory inducers, such as ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), chemical, C. acnes, and in several instances does so more potently than CBD. A 20-subject vehicle-controlled clinical study was performed with 0.1% CBG serum and placebo applied topically for 2 weeks after sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritation. CBG serum showed statistically significant improvement above placebo for transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduction in the appearance of redness. Altogether, CBG’s broad range of in vitro and clinical skin health-promoting activities demonstrates its strong potential as a safe, effective ingredient for topical use and suggests there are areas where it may be more effective than CBD.     

Generalized electrical analysis of low-pass and high-pass birdcage resonators

The radio-frequency 'birdcage resonator' has found wide use in MRI/MRS for its field homogeneity and signal-noise characteristics. This paper presents a general analysis, derived from lumped element transmission line theory, of the electrical behavior of unloaded, N-column birdcage resonators applicable to several versions of the basic design including low-pass and high-pass coils. Analytic expressions and computer results are presented for both types of coil describing resonant frequencies, input and characteristic impedances, dispersion relations, pass-bands, resonant peak bandwidth and Q. Theoretical expressions for normalized resonant frequency difference ratios independent of element values and resonator geometry have been developed for generic low- and high-pass coils. Experimental measurements of resonant frequencies were made for six coils, and the average agreement with theoretical predictions was approximately 4%.     

Nonlinear characterization of sand-asphalt concrete by means of permanent-memory norms

Employing a constitutive equation developed by Farris and Fitzgerald which accounts for the maximum strain ever imposed upon a material as well as a weighted average of the strain history, the family of P^th order Lebesgue norms, the applicability to a sand-asphalt concrete is demonstrated. The inadequacy of linear viscoelasticity theory under repeated or decreasing loadings for these materials is also demonstrated. Practical laboratory determination of the material parameters is described.     

Isotopic composition of inorganic carbon as an indicator of benzoate degradation by pseudomonas putida: temperature, growth rate and pH effects

Degradation experiments of benzoate by Pseudomonas putida resulted in enzymatic carbon isotope fractionations. However, isotopic temperature effects between experiments at 20 and 30 degrees C were minor. Averages of the last three values of the CO(2) isotopic composition (delta(13)C(CO2(g))) were more negative than the initial benzoate delta(13)C value (-26.2 per thousand Vienna Pee Dee Belenite (VPDB)) by 3.8, 3.4 and 3.2 per thousand at 20, 25 and 30 degrees C, respectively. Although the maximum isotopic temperature difference found was only 0.6 per thousand, more extreme temperature variations may cause larger isotope effects. In order to understand the isotope effects on the total inorganic carbon (TIC), a better measure is to calculate the proportions of the inorganic carbon species (CO(2)(g), CO(2)(aq) and HCO(3)(-)) and to determine their cumulative delta(13)C(TIC). In all three experiments delta(13)C(TIC) was more positive than the initial isotopic composition of the benzoate at a pH of 7. This suggests an uptake of (12)C in the biomass in order to match the carbon balance of these closed system experiments.     

Gas phase generation of the neutrals H2CCCCO, HCCCCDO and CCCHCHO from anionic precursors. Rearrangements of HCCCCDO and CCCHCHO. A joint experimental and theoretical study

The reaction between O-. and MeO-CH2-C identical to C-CDO in the ion source of a VG ZAB 2HF mass spectrometer gives a number of product anions including [H2CCCCO]-. and [HCCCCDO]-. (in the ratio 1:5). Neutralisation-reionisation (NR+) of [H2CCCCO]-. results in the sequential two-electron vertical oxidation [H2CCCCO]-.-->H2CCCCO-->[H2CCCCO](+.). Singlet H2CCCCO lies 158 kJ mol-1 below the triplet [at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory]. The majority of neutrals H2CCCCO are stable for the microsecond duration of the NR experiment, but some are energized and decompose to give H2CCC and CO. A similar NR+ experiment with [HCCCCDO]-. yields neutrals HCCCCDO, some of which are excited and rearrange. Calculations show that it is the singlet form of HCCCCHO which rearranges (the singlet lies 36 kJ mol-1 above the ground state triplet): the rearrangement occurs by the sequential H transfer process, HCCCCHO-->HCC(CH)CO<--H2CCCCO. Neutral HCCCCHO needs an excess energy of only 43 kJ mol-1 to effect this reaction, which is exothermic by 230 kJ mol-1. Both HCC(CH)CO and H2CCCCO formed in this way should have sufficient excess energy to cause some loss of CO. The anions [CC(CH)CHO]-. and [CC(CD)CHO]-. are formed in the ion source of the mass spectrometer by the reactions of HO- with Me3SiC identical to C-CH = CHOMe and Me3SiC identical to C-CD = CHOMe respectively. NR+ of these anions indicate that energized forms of CC(CH)CHO and CC(CD)CHO may rearrange to isomer(s) which decompose by loss of CO. Singlet CC(CH)CHO rearranges to HCC(CH)CO and H2CCCCO, both of which are energized and fragment by loss of CO.