Generic transient memory formation in disordered systems with noise

Out-of-equilibrium disordered systems may form memories of external driving in a remarkable fashion. The system "remembers" multiple values from a series of training inputs yet "forgets" nearly all of them at long times despite the inputs being continually repeated. Here, learning and forgetting are inseparable aspects of a single process. The memory loss may be prevented by the addition of noise. We identify a class of systems with this behavior, giving as an example a model of non-Brownian suspensions under cyclic shear.     

Development of nanoscale inhomogeneities during drying of sol-gel derived amorphous lead zirconate titanate precursor thin films

The structural evolution of sol-gel derived lead zirconate titanate (PZT) precursor films during and after physical drying was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and time-resolved X-ray diffraction (XRD). Films were deposited from initial 0.3 mol/dm(3) precursor sols with varying hydrolysis ratios. Zr-rich grains of 1-10 nm size, embedded in a Pb-, Zr-, and Ti-containing amorphous matrix were found in as-dried films. The Zr-rich regions were crystalline at hydrolysis ratios [H(2)O]/[PZT] < 27.6, and amorphous at ratios > 100. X-ray diffraction analysis of PZT and zirconia sols revealed that the crystalline nanoparticles in both sols are identical and are probably composed of nanosized zirconium oxoacetate-like clusters. This study demonstrates that time-resolved X-ray diffraction combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy mapping is a powerful tool to monitor the nanoscale structural evolution of sol-gel derived thin films.     

Ferritin in iron containing granules from the fat body of the honeybees Apis mellifera and Scaptotrigona postica

It is already known that the behaviour of the honeybee Apis mellifera is influenced by the Earth's magnetic field. Recently it has been proposed that iron-rich granules found inside the fat body cells of this honeybee had small magnetite crystals that were responsible for this behaviour. In the present work, we studied the iron containing granules from queens of two species of honeybees (A. mellifera and Scaptotrigona postica) by electron microscopy methods in order to clarify this point. The granules were found inside rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of granules from A. mellifera showed the presence of iron, phosphorus and calcium. The same analysis performed on the granules of S. postica also indicated the presence of these elements along with the additional element magnesium. The granules of A. mellifera were composed of apoferritin-like particles in the periphery while in the core, clusters of organised particles resembling holoferritin were seen. The larger and more mineralised granules of S. postica presented structures resembling ferritin cores in the periphery, and smaller electron dense particles inside the bulk. Electron spectroscopic images of the granules from A. mellifera showed that iron, oxygen and phosphorus were co-localised in the ferritin-like deposits. These results indicate that the iron-rich granules of these honeybees are formed by accumulation of ferritin and its degraded forms together with elements present inside the rough endoplasmic reticulum, such as phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. It is suggested that the high level of phosphate in the milieu would prevent the crystallisation of iron oxides in these structures, making very unlikely their participation in magnetoreception mechanisms. They are most probably involved in iron homeostasis.     

Searching for efficient X-ray radiators for wire array Z-pinch plasmas using mid-atomic-number single planar wire arrays on Zebra at UNR

We continue to search for more efficient X-ray radiators from wire array Z-pinch plasmas. The results of recent experiments with single planar wire array (SPWA) loads made from mid-atomic-number material wires such as Alumel, Cu, Mo, and Ag are presented and compared. In particular, two new efficient X-ray radiators, Alumel (95% Ni, 2% Al, and 2% Si) and Ag, are introduced, and their radiative properties are discussed in detail. The experiments were performed on the 1 MA Zebra generator at UNR. The X-ray yields from such mid-atomic-number SPWAs exceed twice those from low-atomic-number SPWAs, such as Al, and increase with the atomic number to reach more than 27–29 kJ for Ag. To consider the main contributions to the total radiation, we divided the time interval of the Z-pinch dynamic where wire ablation and implosion, stagnation, and plasma expansion occur in corresponding phases and studied the radiative and implosion characteristics within them. Theoretical tools such as non-LTE kinetics and wire ablation dynamic models were applied in the data analysis. These results and the models developed have much broader applications, not only for SPWAs on Zebra, but for other HED plasmas with mid-atomic-number ions.     

Cost-effective interrogation of single nucleotide polymorphisms using the mismatch amplification mutation assay and capillary electrophoresis

The ability to characterize SNPs is an important aspect of many clinical diagnostic, genetic and evolutionary studies. Here, we designed a multiplexed SNP genotyping method to survey a large number of phylogenetically informative SNPs within the genome of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. This novel method, CE universal tail mismatch amplification mutation assay (CUMA), allows for PCR multiplexing and automatic scoring of SNP genotypes, thus providing a rapid, economical and higher throughput alternative to more expensive SNP genotyping techniques. CUMA delivered accurate B. anthracis SNP genotyping results and, when multiplexed, saved reagent costs by more than 80% compared with TaqMan real-time PCR. When real-time PCR technology and instrumentation is unavailable or the reagents are cost-prohibitive, CUMA is a powerful alternative for SNP genotyping.     

Ultrastructure and cytochemistry of lipid granules in the many-celled magnetotactic prokaryote, 'Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis'

Conspicuous cytoplasmic granules are reported in a magnetotactic multicellular prokaryote named ‘Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis’. Unfortunately, this microorganism, which consists of an assembly of gram-negative bacterial cells, cannot yet be cultivated, limiting the biochemical analysis of the granules and preventing in vitro studies with starvation/excess of nutrients. In this scenario, light and electron microscopy techniques were used to partially address the nature of the granules. Besides magnetosomes, three types of inclusions were observed: small (mean diameter = 124 nm) polyhydroxyalkanoate-like (PHA) granules, large (diameters ranging from 0.11 to 2.5 μm) non-PHA lipid granules, and rare phosphorus-rich granules, which probably correspond to polyphosphate bodies. The PHA granules were rounded in projection, non-reactive with OsO₄, and suffered the typical plastic deformation of PHAs after freeze fracturing. The nature of the large granules, consisting of round globular structures (mean diameter = 0.76 μm), was classified as non-PHA based on the following data: (a) multilayered structure in freeze-fracture electron microscopy, typical of non-PHA lipids; (b) Nile blue fluorescence imaging detected non-PHA lipids; (c) imidazole buffered osmium tetroxide and ruthenium red cytochemistry stained the globules, which appeared as electron-dense granules instead of electron lucent as PHAs do. Most likely, ‘Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis’ stores carbon mainly as unusual lipid granules, together with smaller amounts of PHAs.