The long-distance stable transport of relativistic electron beams (REBs) in plasmas is studied by full three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Theoretical analysis shows that the beam transport is mainly influenced by three transverse instabilities, where the excitation of self-modulation instability, and the suppression of the filamentation instability and the hosing instability are important to realize the beam stable transport. By modulating the transport parameters such as the electron density ratio, the relativistic Lorentz factor, the beam envelopes and the density profiles, the relativistic bunches having a smooth density profile and a length of several plasma wave periods can suppress the beam-plasma instabilities and propagate in plasmas for long distances with small energy losses. The results provide a reference for the research of long-distance and stable transport of REBs, and would be helpful for new particle beam diagnosis technology and space active experiments.

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) in which the elemental composition intentionally varies with position can be fabricated using directed energy deposition additive manufacturing (AM). This work examines an FGM that is linearly graded from V to Invar 36 (64 wt% Fe, 36 wt% Ni). This FGM cracked during fabrication, indicating the formation of detrimental phases. The microstructure, composition, phases, and microhardness of the gradient zone were analyzed experimentally. The phase composition as a function of chemistry was predicted through thermodynamic calculations. It was determined that a significant amount of the intermetallic σ-FeV phase formed within the gradient zone. When the σ phase constituted the majority phase, catastrophic cracking occurred. The approach presented illustrates the suitability of using equilibrium thermodynamic calculations for the prediction of phase formation in FGMs made by AM despite the nonequilibrium conditions in AM, providing a route for the computationally informed design of FGMs.

To investigate familial influences on the full range of variability in attention and activity across adolescence, we collected maternal ratings of 339 twin pairs at ages 12, 14, and 16, and estimated the transmitted and new familial influences on attention and activity as measured by the Strengths and Weaknesses of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale. Familial influences were substantial for both traits across adolescence: genetic influences accounted for 54%–73% (attention) and 31%–73% (activity) of the total variance, and shared environmental influences accounted for 0%–22% of the attention variance and 13%–57% of the activity variance. The longitudinal stability of individual differences in attention and activity was largely accounted for by familial influences transmitted from previous ages. Innovations over adolescence were also partially attributable to familial influences. Studying the full range of variability in attention and activity may facilitate our understanding of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder's etiology and intervention.

The interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), as one of the key genes involved in the interferon pathway, is critical for defending the host against influenza virus, and the rs12252 T>C variant in IFITM3 might be associated with susceptibility to severe influenza. Owing to contradictory and inconclusive results, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between rs12252 T>C polymorphism and severe influenza risk. A comprehensive literature search up to 1 August 2014 was conducted in EMBASE, Pubmed, Web of Science, VIP, Wanfang and CNKI databases. Four eligible studies with a total of 445 influenza patients and 3396 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, our results demonstrated a significant association between the IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism and influenza risk [C vs. T: odds ratio (OR) 1·68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·32–2·13; CC vs. CT+TT: OR 2·38, 95% CI 1·52–3·73; CC+CT vs. TT: OR 1·62, 95% CI 1·18–2·22]. Stratification by ethnicity indicated that the variant C allele was associated with an 88% increased risk of influenza in Asians (C vs. T: OR 1·88, 95% CI 1·34–2·62). Moreover, subjects carrying the variant C allele had an increased risk of developing severe illness upon influenza infection (C vs. T: OR 2·70, 95% CI 1·86–3·94). However, no significant association was observed in patients with mild infection (C vs. T: OR 1·26, 95% CI 0·93–1·71). Our meta-analysis suggests that IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism is significantly associated with increased risk of severe influenza but not with the chance of initial virus infection.

Thermal evaporation technique was used to prepare As20Se80−xTlx films from bulk materials; ($5\leqslant x\leqslant 35$ at.%). The effect of TI addition on the thermoelectric properties and mobility activation energy of As-Se-Tl chalcogenide semiconductors has been studied in the homogeneous glass-forming region through temperature range (300–380 K). The thermoelectric power, TEP had a positive sign over the whole temperature range investigated, indicating p-type conductivity for As20Se80−xTlx films. TEP activation energy, $\Delta E_{s}$ could be calculated from TEP measurements. It was found that $\Delta E_{s}$ decreases with increasing Tl-content and is found to vary between 0.814 and 0.517 eV. The mobility activation energy, $\Delta E_{Q}$ could be calculated.

The primary cilium is a ubiquitous cytoplasmic organelle of unknown function. Ultrastructural evidence of primary cilia in chondrocytes, and their colocalisation with the Golgi apparatus, has led to speculation that these structures are functionally linked. To investigate the relationship between these organelles, we examined the molecular anatomy of the microtubular cytoskeleton in the chondrocytes of chick embryo sterna. Thick cryosections were immunolabelled with antibodies directed against acetylated α-tubulin (C3B9), detyrosinated α-tubulin (ID5) and total α-tubulin (TAT), and imaged at high magnification using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the ultrastructure of the chondrocyte primary cilium and its structural relationship to the Golgi apparatus. Detyrosinated and acetylated α-tubulins were concentrated in the centrioles, centrosome and microtubule organising centre adjacent to the nucleus, with total α-tubulin distributed throughout the cytoplasm. ID5 stained the primary cilium at an incidence of 1 per cell, its colocalisation with C3B9 identifying the primary cilium as one of the most stable features of the microtubular cytoskeleton. Primary cilia varied from 1 to 4 μm in length, and 3 patterns of projection into the extracellular matrix were identified; (1) full extension and matrix contact, with minor undulations along the length; (2) partial extension and matrix contact, with a range of bending deflections; (3) cilium reclined against the cell surface with minimal matrix contact. Ultrastructural studies identified direct connections between extracellular collagen fibres and the proteins which decorate ciliary microtubules, suggesting a matrix–cilium–Golgi continuum in hyaline chondrocytes. These results strengthen the hypothesis that the primary cilium acts as a ‘cellular cybernetic probe' capable of transducing environmental information from the extracellular matrix, communicating this information to the centrosome, and regulating the exocytosis of Golgi-derived secretory vesicles.

Background. Serotonergic mechanisms have been proposed for the pathophysiology of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and the therapeutic effect of bright-light treatment. Previously, we showed that SAD patients, in clinical remission with light therapy during the winter, experienced transient depressive relapses after a rapid tryptophan depletion (RTD) technique, which results in decreased brain serotonin levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of RTD in SAD patients who were in natural summer remission.

Methods. Twelve drug-free patients with SAD by DSM-IV criteria and 10 normal subjects participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. SAD patients were in natural summer remission for at least 8 weeks. Behavioural ratings and plasma tryptophan levels were obtained before, and 5 h after, ingesting an amino acid (AA) mixture±tryptophan. Experimental RTD and control sessions were scheduled 1 week apart.

Results. The RTD session resulted in significant reduction in total and free plasma tryptophan levels compared to the control session. The behavioural data were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance. This analysis found significant main effects of time (higher scores after AA ingestion) and diagnosis (higher scores in SAD patients), but no main effect of session or significant interaction effects between the three factors. Thus, there were no significant behavioural effects of RTD compared to the sham depletion control session.

Conclusions. The summer remission experienced by SAD patients is not dependent on plasma tryptophan levels (and presumably brain serotonin function) in the same manner as that of remission after light therapy. These results conflict with those of other laboratories, perhaps because of differences in study samples.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) provide a noninvasive method to evaluate neural activation and cognitive processes in schizophrenia. The pathophysiological significance of these findings would be greatly enhanced if scalp-recorded ERP abnormalities could be related to specific neural circuits and/or regions of the brain. Using quantitative approaches in which scalp-recorded ERP components are correlated with underlying neuroanatomy in schizophrenia, we focused on biophysical and statistical procedures (partial least squares) to relate the auditory P300 component to anatomic measures obtained from quantitative magnetic resonance imaging. These findings are consistent with other evidence that temporal lobe structures contribute to the generation of the scalp-recorded P300 component and that P300 amplitude asymmetry over temporal recording sites on the scalp may reflect anatomic asymmetries in the volume of the superior temporal gyrus in schizophrenia.

Mycosphaerella tasmaniensis is newly described from Mycosphaerella leaf blotch symptoms occurring on Eucalyptus nitens in Tasmania, Australia. Single ascospore cultures produced a Mycovellosiella anamorph, described here as M. tasmaniensis. Both states occurred together, as well as separately on leaf spots. Phaeophleospora epicoccoides (=Kirramyces epicoccoides) is commonly associated with leaf spots of Eucalyptus spp. in Australia. The teleomorph, Mycosphaerella suttoniae, previously known only from Indonesia, was also collected on E. grandis leaves from Australia. A Cylindrocladium leaf blight disease of young E. grandis trees in Indonesia was found to be associated with a new species of Calonectria. Calonectria multiseptata and its anamorph Cylindrocladium multiseptatum is newly described and distinguished from other species based on their larger, multi-septate ascospores and conidia.

Multisite photoelectric b and V photometry of the δ Scuti variable θ2(78) Tau has been obtained on three continents. Five close pulsation frequencies (13.22965, 13.48073, 13.69360, 14.31764 and 14.61454 cycles per day) with visual amplitudes between 0.001 and 0.007 mag were found. The four frequencies found in the previous campaign were confirmed. All three main data sets (1982-1986) are in excellent agreement with each other and fit the solution to ±0.0028 mag per single measurement. Over the four years the amplitudes and frequencies of pulsation were constant.