| 1. |
- Gaffney, L. P., et al.
(författare)
-
Studies of pear-shaped nuclei using accelerated radioactive beams
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 497:7448, s. 199-204
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is strong circumstantial evidence that certain heavy, unstable atomic nuclei are 'octupole deformed', that is, distorted into a pear shape. This contrasts with the more prevalent rugby-ball shape of nuclei with reflection-symmetric, quadrupole deformations. The elusive octupole deformed nuclei are of importance for nuclear structure theory, and also in searches for physics beyond the standard model; any measurable electric-dipole moment (a signature of the latter) is expected to be amplified in such nuclei. Here we determine electric octupole transition strengths (a direct measure of octupole correlations) for short-lived isotopes of radon and radium. Coulomb excitation experiments were performed using accelerated beams of heavy, radioactive ions. Our data on Rn-220 and Ra-224 show clear evidence for stronger octupole deformation in the latter. The results enable discrimination between differing theoretical approaches to octupole correlations, and help to constrain suitable candidates for experimental studies of atomic electric-dipole moments that might reveal extensions to the standard model.
|
|
| 2. |
- Smith, P., et al.
(författare)
-
How much land-based greenhouse gas mitigation can be achieved without compromising food security and environmental goals?
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2486 .- 1354-1013. ; 19:8, s. 2285-2302
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Feeding 9-10billion people by 2050 and preventing dangerous climate change are two of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Both challenges must be met while reducing the impact of land management on ecosystem services that deliver vital goods and services, and support human health and well-being. Few studies to date have considered the interactions between these challenges. In this study we briefly outline the challenges, review the supply- and demand-side climate mitigation potential available in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use AFOLU sector and options for delivering food security. We briefly outline some of the synergies and trade-offs afforded by mitigation practices, before presenting an assessment of the mitigation potential possible in the AFOLU sector under possible future scenarios in which demand-side measures codeliver to aid food security. We conclude that while supply-side mitigation measures, such as changes in land management, might either enhance or negatively impact food security, demand-side mitigation measures, such as reduced waste or demand for livestock products, should benefit both food security and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. Demand-side measures offer a greater potential (1.5-15.6Gt CO2-eq. yr(-1)) in meeting both challenges than do supply-side measures (1.5-4.3Gt CO2-eq. yr(-1) at carbon prices between 20 and 100US$ tCO(2)-eq. yr(-1)), but given the enormity of challenges, all options need to be considered. Supply-side measures should be implemented immediately, focussing on those that allow the production of more agricultural product per unit of input. For demand-side measures, given the difficulties in their implementation and lag in their effectiveness, policy should be introduced quickly, and should aim to codeliver to other policy agenda, such as improving environmental quality or improving dietary health. These problems facing humanity in the 21st Century are extremely challenging, and policy that addresses multiple objectives is required now more than ever.
|
|
| 3. |
- Leandro-Garcia, Luis J., et al.
(författare)
-
Regulatory Polymorphisms in beta-Tubulin IIa Are Associated with Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Clinical Cancer Research. - : American Association for Cancer Research. - 1078-0432 .- 1557-3265. ; 18:16, s. 4441-4448
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Peripheral neuropathy is the dose-limiting toxicity of paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic drug widely used to treat several solid tumors such as breast, lung, and ovary. The cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel is mediated through beta-tubulin binding in the cellular microtubules. In this study, we investigated the association between paclitaxel neurotoxicity risk and regulatory genetic variants in beta-tubulin genes. Experimental Design: We measured variation in gene expression of three beta-tubulin isotypes (I, IVb, and IIa) in lymphocytes from 100 healthy volunteers, sequenced the promoter region to identify polymorphisms putatively influencing gene expression and assessed the transcription rate of the identified variants using luciferase assays. To determine whether the identified regulatory polymorphisms were associated with paclitaxel neurotoxicity, we genotyped them in 214 patients treated with paclitaxel. In addition, paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity in lymphoblastoid cell lines was compared with beta-tubulin expression as measured by Affymetrix exon array. Results: We found a 63-fold variation in beta-tubulin IIa gene (TUBB2A) mRNA content and three polymorphisms located at -101, -112, and -157 in TUBB2A promoter correlated with increased mRNA levels. The -101 and -112 variants, in total linkage disequilibrium, conferred TUBB2A increased transcription rate. Furthermore, these variants protected from paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy [HR, 0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.42-0.93; P = 0.021, multivariable analysis]. In addition, an inverse correlation between TUBB2A and paclitaxel-induced apoptosis (P = 0.001) in lymphoblastoid cell lines further supported that higher TUBB2A gene expression conferred lower paclitaxel sensitivity. Conclusions: This is the first study showing that paclitaxel neuropathy risk is influenced by polymorphisms regulating the expression of a beta-tubulin gene.
|
|
