Tight focusing with very small f-numbers is necessary to achieve the highest at-focus irradiances. However, tight focusing imposes strong demands on precise target positioning in-focus to achieve the highest on-target irradiance. We describe several near-infrared, visible, ultraviolet and soft and hard X-ray diagnostics employed in a ∼1022 W/cm2 laser–plasma experiment. We used nearly 10 J total energy femtosecond laser pulses focused into an approximately 1.3-μm focal spot on 5–20 μm thick stainless-steel targets. We discuss the applicability of these diagnostics to determine the best in-focus target position with approximately 5 μm accuracy (i.e., around half of the short Rayleigh length) and show that several diagnostics (in particular, 3$\omega$ reflection and on-axis hard X-rays) can ensure this accuracy. We demonstrated target positioning within several micrometers from the focus, ensuring over 80% of the ideal peak laser intensity on-target. Our approach is relatively fast (it requires 10–20 laser shots) and does not rely on the coincidence of low-power and high-power focal planes.

The design and the early commissioning of the ELI-Beamlines laser facility’s 30 J, 30 fs, 10 Hz HAPLS (High-repetition-rate Advanced Petawatt Laser System) beam transport (BT) system to the P3 target chamber are described in detail. It is the world’s first and with 54 m length, the longest distance high average power petawatt (PW) BT system ever built. It connects the HAPLS pulse compressor via the injector periscope with the 4.5 m diameter P3 target chamber of the plasma physics group in hall E3. It is the largest target chamber of the facility and was connected first to the BT system. The major engineering challenges are the required high vibration stability mirror support structures, the high pointing stability optomechanics as well as the required levels for chemical and particle cleanliness of the vacuum vessels to preserve the high laser damage threshold of the dielectrically coated high-power mirrors. A first commissioning experiment at low pulse energy shows the full functionality of the BT system to P3 and the novel experimental infrastructure.

The COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins) project is a large international collaborative effort to analyze individual-level phenotype data from twins in multiple cohorts from different environments. The main objective is to study factors that modify genetic and environmental variation of height, body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and size at birth, and additionally to address other research questions such as long-term consequences of birth size. The project started in 2013 and is open to all twin projects in the world having height and weight measures on twins with information on zygosity. Thus far, 54 twin projects from 24 countries have provided individual-level data. The CODATwins database includes 489,981 twin individuals (228,635 complete twin pairs). Since many twin cohorts have collected longitudinal data, there is a total of 1,049,785 height and weight observations. For many cohorts, we also have information on birth weight and length, own smoking behavior and own or parental education. We found that the heritability estimates of height and BMI systematically changed from infancy to old age. Remarkably, only minor differences in the heritability estimates were found across cultural–geographic regions, measurement time and birth cohort for height and BMI. In addition to genetic epidemiological studies, we looked at associations of height and BMI with education, birth weight and smoking status. Within-family analyses examined differences within same-sex and opposite-sex dizygotic twins in birth size and later development. The CODATwins project demonstrates the feasibility and value of international collaboration to address gene-by-exposure interactions that require large sample sizes and address the effects of different exposures across time, geographical regions and socioeconomic status.

Goldmanite, the vanadium analogue of grossular and andradite, was found as subrounded green porphyroblasts ranging from 0.1 to 1.7 mm in size in the carbonaceous black slates from the Deokpyeong area of the Ogcheon belt in Korea. A radiating aggregate of slightly curved blades of goldmanite crystals displays birefringence and replaces the fine-grained black matrix. The V2O3 content ranges from 21.9 to 26.6 wt.% (24.0 wt.% average), higher than previously reported values. The calculated mole % of the goldmanite end-member ranges from 72 to 91. Its cell dimension was calculated to be 12.04 Å from X-ray diffraction. The black slate in the Deokpyeong area is the richest known accessible source of relatively pure goldmanite.

It is important to identify molecular candidates involved in morphological and functional changes in the female reproductive system. We have discovered several candidate genes that were significantly altered in chick oviducts by exogenous estrogen and those candidates included dexamethasone (DEX)-induced RAS-related protein 1 (RASD1). RAS-related protein 1, a member of the Ras family of monomeric G proteins, is involved in various cellular processes including cell growth, proliferation and differentiation, as well as a cell-signaling protein regulating hormonal actions. Although the RASD1 gene was first identified as a DEX (a corticosteroid) inducible gene, there is evidence that it is also an estrogen-responsive gene. However, hormone-mediated expression and biological functions of RASD1 in the avian female reproductive system are poorly understood. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that RASD1 may be involved in the development and remodeling of the chicken reproductive system as an estrogen-responsive gene. Here we demonstrate differential expression of RASD1 gene and candidate microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting chicken RASD1 transcripts in chicken oviducts in response to diesthylstilbestrol (DES, a synthetic non-steroidal estrogen) and the estrogen-mediated molting process. Result of the present study indicated that expression of RASD1 messenger RNA (mRNA) increased in the developing oviducts of chicks treated with DES, particularly in the glandular (GE) and luminal (LE) epithelia of the magnum and the shell gland. Also, during induced molting by zinc feeding, RASD1 expression changed in concert with changes in concentrations of estrogen in blood of laying hens. Our results revealed that expression of RASD1 mRNA decreased as the oviduct regressed and then increased as the oviduct underwent re-growth and recrudescence in hens. Furthermore, RASD1 mRNA was expressed predominantly in GE and LE of the oviduct of laying hens during regeneration of the oviduct after induced molting, but not during the period of regression of the oviduct during molting. In addition, the relative expression of candidate miRNAs (miR-30a-5p, miR-30b-5p, miR-30c-5p and miR-30d) regulating RASD1 transcripts changed in response to estrogen stimulation of chick oviducts. These results indicate that transcription of the RASD1 gene and miRNAs regulating post-transcriptional aspects of expression of RASD1 are modulated by estrogen which is critical for growth, development, remodeling and maintenance of function of the chicken oviduct.

Whether monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins differ from each other in a variety of phenotypes is important for genetic twin modeling and for inferences made from twin studies in general. We analyzed whether there were differences in individual, maternal and paternal education between MZ and DZ twins in a large pooled dataset. Information was gathered on individual education for 218,362 adult twins from 27 twin cohorts (53% females; 39% MZ twins), and on maternal and paternal education for 147,315 and 143,056 twins respectively, from 28 twin cohorts (52% females; 38% MZ twins). Together, we had information on individual or parental education from 42 twin cohorts representing 19 countries. The original education classifications were transformed to education years and analyzed using linear regression models. Overall, MZ males had 0.26 (95% CI [0.21, 0.31]) years and MZ females 0.17 (95% CI [0.12, 0.21]) years longer education than DZ twins. The zygosity difference became smaller in more recent birth cohorts for both males and females. Parental education was somewhat longer for fathers of DZ twins in cohorts born in 1990–1999 (0.16 years, 95% CI [0.08, 0.25]) and 2000 or later (0.11 years, 95% CI [0.00, 0.22]), compared with fathers of MZ twins. The results show that the years of both individual and parental education are largely similar in MZ and DZ twins. We suggest that the socio-economic differences between MZ and DZ twins are so small that inferences based upon genetic modeling of twin data are not affected.

We analyzed birth order differences in means and variances of height and body mass index (BMI) in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins from infancy to old age. The data were derived from the international CODATwins database. The total number of height and BMI measures from 0.5 to 79.5 years of age was 397,466. As expected, first-born twins had greater birth weight than second-born twins. With respect to height, first-born twins were slightly taller than second-born twins in childhood. After adjusting the results for birth weight, the birth order differences decreased and were no longer statistically significant. First-born twins had greater BMI than the second-born twins over childhood and adolescence. After adjusting the results for birth weight, birth order was still associated with BMI until 12 years of age. No interaction effect between birth order and zygosity was found. Only limited evidence was found that birth order influenced variances of height or BMI. The results were similar among boys and girls and also in MZ and DZ twins. Overall, the differences in height and BMI between first- and second-born twins were modest even in early childhood, while adjustment for birth weight reduced the birth order differences but did not remove them for BMI.

The Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO), which will be launched onboard theLomonosov spacecraft, contains two crucial instruments: UFFO BurstAlert & Trigger Telescope (UBAT) for detection and localization of Gamma-Ray Bursts(GRBs) and the fast-response Slewing Mirror Telescope (SMT) designed for the observationof the prompt optical/UV counterparts. Here we discuss the in-space calibrations of theUBAT detector and SMT telescope. After the launch, the observations of the standard X-raysources such as pulsar in Crab nebula will provide data for necessary calibrations ofUBAT. Several standard stars will be used for the photometric calibration of SMT. Thecelestial X-ray sources, e.g. X-ray binaries with bright optical sourcesin their close angular vicinity will serve for the cross-calibration of UBAT and SMT.

The Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO) Pathfinder for Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) consistsof two telescopes. The UFFO Burst Alert & Trigger Telescope (UBAT) handles thedetection and localization of GRBs, and the Slewing Mirror Telescope (SMT) conducts themeasurement of the UV/optical afterglow. UBAT is equipped with an X-ray detector, analogand digital signal readout electronics that detects X-rays from GRBs and determines thelocation. SMT is equipped with a stepping motor and the associated electronics to rotatethe slewing mirror targeting the GRBs identified by UBAT. First the slewing mirror pointsto a GRB, then SMT obtains the optical image of the GRB using the intensified CCD and itsreadout electronics. The UFFO Data Acquisition system (UDAQ) is responsible for theoverall function and operation of the observatory and the communication with the satellitemain processor. In this paper we present the design and implementation of the electronicsof UBAT and SMT as well as the architecture and implementation of UDAQ.

The UFFO (Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory) is a GRB detector on board the Lomonosovsatellite, to be launched in 2013. The GRB trigger is provided by an X-ray detector,called UBAT (UFFO Burst Alarm & Trigger Telescope), which detects X-rays from the GRBand then triggers to determine the direction of the GRB and then alerts the Slewing MirrorTelescope (SMT) to turn in the direction of the GRB and record the optical photon fluxes.This report details the calibration of the two components: the MAPMTs and the YSO crystalsand simulations of the UBAT. The results shows that this design can observe a GRB within afield of view of ±35° and can trigger in a time scale as short as 0.2 – 1.0 safter the appearance of a GRB X-ray spike.

The Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO) is a space mission to detect the early moments of an explosion from Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), thus enhancing our understanding of the GRB mechanism. It consists of the UFFO Burst & Trigger telescope (UBAT) for the recognition of GRB positions using hard X-ray from GRBs. It also contains the Slewing Mirror Telescope (SMT) for the fast detection of UV-optical photons from GRBs. It is designed to begin the UV-optical observations in less than a few seconds after the trigger. The UBAT is based on a coded-mask X-ray camera with a wide field of view (FOV) and is composed of the coded mask, a hopper and a detector module. The SMT has a fast rotatable mirror which allows a fast UV-optical detection after the trigger. The telescope is a modified Ritchey-Chrétien telescope with the aperture size of 10 cm diameter, and an image intensifier readout by CCD. The UFFO pathfinder is scheduled to launch into orbit on 2012 June by the Lomonosov spacecraft. It is a scaled-down version of UFFO in order to make the first systematic study of early UV/optical light curves, including the rise phase of GRBs. We expect UBAT to trigger ~44 GRBs/yr and expect SMT to detect ~10 GRBs/yr.

The SAURON integral-field survey reveals that small (~0.1,Re) kinematically decoupled cores (KDCs) in early-type galaxies are increasingly young toward the center and are typically found in fast-rotating galaxies, while large KDCs (~0.5 Re) have homogeneously old stars and are present in non-rotating galaxies (McDermid et al. 2006). GALEX UV imaging further allows the direct identification of regions of recent star formation (≤0.5 Gyr). In NGC 2974 for example, young stars are identified in the center and an outer ring Jeong et al. 2006). Nuclear and inner ionised-gas rings (Sarzi et al. 2006) then suggest that current star formation is bar-driven. The CO detection rate of SAURON early-type galaxies is ≈40% (Combes et al. in prep.). Synthesis imaging reveals that it is generally contained in a well-ordered central disk, both in galaxies with a (young) central stellar disk (e.g. NGC 4459, NGC 4526) or a (young) KDC (e.g. NGC 3032, NGC 4150) (Young et al. in prep.). CO also traces well the young stellar populations and ionised gas distribution and kinematics, but in KDCs not always the stellar kinematics Emsellem et al. 2004; Sarzi et al. 2006; Kuntschner et al. 2006).

Cyst fluid (CF) of Taenia solium metacestode (TsM) is an important source of serodiagnostic antigens. We have investigated the molecular characteristics of the 120 kDa protein complex in TsM CF purified by fast performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the purified protein was characterized by a variety of proteomic analyses. The protein was found to consist of 2 major components of 42–46 and 22–28 kDa, and shared 3 subunits of 14, 16 and 18 kDa. The 42–46 kDa component was determined to contain 3 additional subunits of 22, 28 and 38 kDa. These 6 subunits were shown to originate from either the 14 or 18 kDa precursor. We assessed the antibody reactivity of the native protein, its individual subunits and the recombinant 14 and 18 kDa proteins, and found that the 120 kDa protein, particularly 14 and 18 kDa subunits revealed high reliability for differentiation of active and mixed stage NC from chronic NC. The subunits of the 120 kDa protein complex identified herein represent some of the low-molecular weight glycoproteins which have been described in several previous studies. Recognizing and understanding the structural and immunological relationship of these proteins will facilitate the development of new serodiagnostic assays.

In this study, we produced Au-Sn alloy electroplated from a single solution and optimized the composition. The composition of electroplated Au-Sn alloy was Au-31.02 at.% Sn at the condition of 6 ms on - 4 ms off pulse current, 50 °C and 10 mA/cm2. Results in XRD analysis showed that Au-Sn alloy electroplated at DC 10 mA/cm2 had AuSn phase (δ) only and Au5Sn phase (d) appeared with decreasing the pulsed current on time. Also micro-patterned Au-Sn solder bump was produced by photolithography. Though it’s composition of Au-35.98 at.% Sn was not optimum, we tried to bond between Au-Sn solder bump and Si wafer that was coated with Ti (100 nm)/Au (300 nm).

With respect to the operation of a Phase-change Random Access Memory (PRAM or PcRAM), we studied the effect of the contact between the electrode metal and the chalcogenide glass, N2 doped Ge2Sb2Te5 in this report. We investigated a change of the resistance-programming current pulse (R-I) curve varying the contact size and the electrode material. Also we tested the surface oxidation of the electrode. We found that the programming current, the resistance of the programmed state (“RESET”) and the erased state (“SET”) were highly dependent on the above parameters. These results are presented and a more effective way to the high density PRAM will be proposed.

Normal CrOx/Cr type color filter black matrix requires multi-layer sputtering and photo/etch processes which cause several problems such as particles generation, high production cost, and environmental issues. Various kinds of materials are being reviewed to substitute the existing Cr base materials. Especially carbon based organic type and pigment type photo-sensitive materials are actively under development. Our researches are focused on the characterization of material properties, color filter manufacturing techniques which are optimized for liquid crystal process, and the display quality of newly developed materials. Carbon based organic photoresist has excellent optical, material, and process properties which can be used for TFT-LCD color filter products. 14.2″ VGA panel is fabricated by using this organic black matrix technique. It is expected that this technique will lead the color filter production market.