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We present a comprehensive and elaborate study of W LVI (K-like [W.sup.55+]) by using multi-configuration Dirac-Fock method (MCDF). We have included relativistic corrections, QED (quantum electrodynamics) and Breit corrections in our computation. We have reported energy levels and radiative data for multipole transitions (i.e., electric dipole (E1), electric quadrupole (E2), magnetic dipole (M1), and magnetic quadrupole (M2)) within the lowest 142 fine-structure levels and predicted soft X-ray transition (SXR) and extreme ultraviolet transitions (EUV) from higher excited states to the ground state. We have compared our calculated data with energy levels compiled by NIST and other available results in the literature and the small discrepancies found with them are discussed. Because only a few of the lowest levels are available in the literature, for checking excitation energies of higher excited states we have performed the same calculations with the distorted wave method. Furthermore, we have also provided relative population for the first five excited states, with both the partition function and thermodynamic quantities for W LVI and studied their variations with temperature. We believe that our reported new atomic data of W LVI may be useful in identification and analysis of spectral lines from various astrophysical and fusion plasma sources and may also be beneficial in plasma modeling. Key words: EUV, SXR, partition function, atomic data, level population. Nous presentons une etude elaboree et exhaustive du W LVI ([W.sup.55+] de type K) en utilisant une methode de DiracFock multi-configurations (DFMC/MCDF). Ces calculs incluent les corrections relativistes de EDQ/QED (electrodynamique quantique) et de Breit. Nous presentons ici les niveaux d'energie et les donnees radiatives pour plusieurs transitions multipolaires (i.e., dipolaires electriques (E1), quadripolaires electriques (E2), dipolaires magnetiques (M1) et quadripolaires magnetiques (M2)) dans les 146 niveaux les plus bas de structure fine, avec les transitions a rayons X moux et UV extremes entre les etats excites et le fondamental. Nous comparons nos resultats de calcul avec les donnees sur les niveaux d'energie compilees par NIST et d'autres resultats trouves dans la litterature et nous discutons les petites divergences. Parce que peu de niveaux sont disponibles dans la litterature et afin de verifier les energies des niveaux de plus haute excitation, nous avons refait le calcul a l'aide de la methode des ondes distordues. De plus, nous donnons les populations relatives pour les cinq plus bas niveaux excites, avec la fonction de partition et les quantites thermodynamiques pour les deux modeles de W LVI et etudions leurs variations avec la temperature. Nous estimons que ces nouveaux resultats pour W LVI peuvent etre utiles dans l'identification de lignes spectrales en astrophysique et dans des sources de plasma de fusion et etre benefiques en modelisation de plasma. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : UV extremes, rayons X mous, donnees atomiques, population des niveaux., 1. Introduction Specific physical properties of tungsten (W), such as its highest melting point and lower vapor pressure of all metals, position it as a potential candidate in fusion agency. [...]

We report an extensive and elaborate theoretical study of atomic data for Cs XXV by using multi-configuration Dirac-Fock method and calculated energy levels for the lowest 110 fine structure levels. We have presented the radiative data for electric and magnetic dipole (E1, M1) and quadrupole (E2, M2) transitions among lowest 110 levels. We have made comparisons of our calculated excitation energies with theoretically calculated and experimentally observed energy levels. We have studied the effect of correlation by introducing more configurations in our calculations. We have also computed energy levels by performing similar relativistic distorted wave calculations using Flexible Atomic Code. Additionally, we have also provided new atomic data for Cs XXV and identified extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray spectral lines with gA spectra for E1 and M2 transitions, which are not published elsewhere in the literature. We believe that our results may be beneficial in fusion plasma research and applications. Key words: energy levels, radiative data, soft X-ray, extreme ultraviolet ray, transition wavelengths. Notre rapport presente une etude theorique complete et elaboree de donnees atomiques du Cs XXV, en utilisant une methode de Dirac-Fock multi-configurations et nous calculons les niveaux d'energie des 110 plus bas niveaux de structure fine. Nous presentons les resultats pour les transitions electriques et magnetiques dipolaires (E1, M1) et quadripolaires (E2, M2) entre les 110 niveaux les plus bas. Nous comparons nos resultats avec des valeurs theoriques calculees et experimentales observees. Les effets des correlations sont etudies en introduisant plus de configurations dans nos calculs. Nous recalculons les energies par methode d'ondes deformees relativiste en utilisant l'ensemble logiciel Flexible Atomic Code. De plus, nous produisons de nouveaux resultats atomiques pour Cs XXV et identifions des raies spectrales EUV et SXR avec des spectres de gA pour des transitions E1 et M2 jamais encore publiees. Nous croyons que nos resultats peuvent etre utiles pour la recherche et les applications en plasmas de fusion. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : niveaux d'energie, donnees radiatives, longueurs d'onde de transition, rayon X mou, rayon ultraviolet extreme., 1. Introduction In last few years, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray (SXR) transitions of high-Z ions have become the subject of real research as they are of astrophysical interest. [...]

Collision strengths for all 1326 transitions among lowest 52 fine-structure levels of Br XXVII have been computed using Dirac atomic R-matrix code (DARC). Resonances in the threshold region have been completely resolved and the contributions of these resonances to allowed and forbidden transitions have been presented. The partial collision strength for each angular momentum has been studied graphically. Effective collision strengths have also been determined within the temperature range for all 1326 transitions among the lowest 52 levels. Target state energies of the lowest 52 fine-structure levels have been computed from the multi-configuration Dirac-Fock method (MCDF). Additionally, similar calculations with the relativistic distorted wave method and flexible atomic code (FAC) have also been performed to check the accuracy of our results. The present work represents a new and significant work with improvement in the field. We believe that our presented data of collision and effective collision strengths may be useful in the future for benchmark calculations and for plasma diagnostics. Key words: energy levels, collision strength, effective collision strength. Nous calculons les forces de collision pour toutes les 1326 transitions entre les 52 niveaux de structure fine du Br XXVII, en utilisant le logiciel de la matrice R atomique de Dirac. Nous identifions completement les resonances dans la region du seuil et presentons la contribution de ces resonances aux transitions permises et interdites. Nous etudions graphiquement les forces de collision partielles pour chaque valeur du moment angulaire. Les forces de collision effectives sont egalement determinees dans un domaine de temperature pour les 1326 transitions entre les 52 niveaux. Les energies des etats cibles pour les 52 plus bas niveaux de structure fine sont calculees par la methode de Dirac-Fock multi -configurationnelle (MDFC/MCDF). De plus, nous recalculons ces quantites a l'aide d'une methode d'ondes partielles relativiste, l'approche du Flexible atomic code, afin de verifier l'exactitude de nos resultats. Notre travail represente une avancee nouvelle et significative du domaine. Nous croyons que nos donnees de collision et de force de collision effective seront utiles dans l'avenir pour des calculs etalons et dans les diagnostiques du plasmas. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: force de collision, force de collision effective, resonances, diagnostique du plasm, niveaux d'energie., 1. Introduction During the last few years, the study of the spectroscopic parameters and atomic processes for highly charged ions has become a topic of interest because of its applications [...]

We report accurate calculations of W XLIV through application of multi-configuration Dirac-Fock wave functions. We have calculated the energies for the lowest 100 fine structure levels, transition wavelengths, radiative rates, oscillator strengths, and line strengths for electric (E1) and magnetic dipole (M1) transitions with the extended average level multi- configurational Dirac-Fock method in the General-Purpose Relativistic Atomic Structure Package (GRASP). We have taken into account the electron correlations, quantum electrodynamics (QED) and Breit corrections in our calculations. We have also performed parallel calculations with the flexible atomic code (FAC) to assess the accuracy of our calculations. This is a fully relativistic code that provides a variety of atomic parameters, and (generally) yields results for energy levels and radiative rates comparable to GRASP. Our calculated results match well with experimentally observed results that are obtained in ASDEX upgrade Tokamak. Additionally, we have also provided the line intensity ratios and electron density for W XLIV, which is useful and important in plasma diagnostics and modeling in future International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) experiments. We believe that our results would be beneficial in the areas of fusion plasma research and astrophysical investigations and applications. Key words: atomic data, dipole transitions, line intensity, electron density, plasma diagnostics. Nous utilisons ici les fonctions d'onde de Dirac-Fock multi-configurations pour faire des calculs precis de WXLIV. Nous calculons les energies des 100 premiers niveaux de structure fine, les longueurs d'onde de transition, les taux radiatifs, les forces d'oscillateur et les intensites de raie pour les transitions dipolaires electriques (E1) et dipolaires magnetiques (M1) via la methode de Dirac-Fock multi-configuration de niveaux a moyenne etendue, en utilisant l'ensemble logiciel General-Purpose Relavistic Atomic Structure (GRASP). Nos calculs tiennent compte des correlations entre electrons et des corrections d'electrodynamique quantique et de Breit. Nous completons aussi des calculs paralleles avec le programme atomique flexible (PAF/FAC) pour verifier la precision de nos calculs. Il s'agit d'un logiciel totalement relativiste qui fournit une variete de parametres atomiques et, generalement, donne des resultats pour les niveaux d'energie et les taux radiatifs qui sont comparables a GRASP. Les resultats de nos calculs agreent bien avec les donnees experimentales observees dans le tokamak mis a jour ASDEX. De plus, nous produisons les donnees de rapport d'intensite de raie et de densite electronique pour W XLIV, qui seront utiles et importantes en recherche de diagnostique de plasma et dans la modelisation du futur Reacteur Thermonucleaire Experimental International (ITER). Nous croyons que nos resultats pourront beneficier aux recherches sur les plasmas de fusion et dans les etudes et applications astrophysiques. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: diagnostique du plasma, donnees atomiques, transitions dipolaires, densite electronique., 1. Introduction Tungsten has received the bulk of its research attention in the domain of fusion research as it is planned to be employed as a plasma-facing material in upcoming [...]

In this work, the thermodynamic properties of a Ga1-χAlχAs quantum wire under a parabolic confinement potential, influence of Rashba SOI and presence of Al impurity are studied. External electric and magnetic fields have also been considered. We first formulate the Hamiltonian of the system and then find the eigenenergies, which are used to calculate the partition function. The partition function is the basis of formulating the thermodynamic properties under consideration, viz. mean energy, heat capacity, free energy, entropy and magnetocaloric effect, which are plotted against temperature and impurity. The results show that the mean energy rises with temperature, a peak structure is observed in the heat capacity and the magnetocaloric effect, the free energy steadily decreases with temperature, and the entropy first increases, and then converges to a constant value. The mean energy, heat capacity and free energy increase with impurity, whereas the magnetocaloric effect decreases. The behaviour of all the properties with respect to impurity reverses when the value of impurity becomes greater than ~ 0.6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthmatic patients' responses to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are variable and difficult to quantify. We have previously defined a Cross-sectional Asthma STEroid Response (CASTER) measure of ICS response. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have shown strong effects on asthma and inflammatory processes. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify key associations between circulating miRNAs and ICS response in childhood asthma. Methods: Small RNA sequencing in peripheral blood serum from 580 children with asthma on ICS treatment from The Genetics of Asthma in Costa Rica Study (GACRS) was used to identify miRNAs associated with ICS response using generalized linear models. Replication was conducted in children on ICS from the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) cohort. The association between replicated miRNAs and the transcriptome of lymphoblastoid cell lines in response to a glucocorticoid was assessed. Results: The association study on the GACRS cohort identified 36 miRNAs associated with ICS response at 10% false discovery rate (FDR), three of which (miR-28-5p, miR-339-3p, and miR-432-5p) were in the same direction of effect and significant in the CAMP replication cohort. In addition, in vitro steroid response lymphoblastoid gene expression analysis revealed 22 dexamethasone responsive genes were significantly associated with three replicated miRNAs. Furthermore, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) revealed a significant association between miR-339-3p and two modules (black and magenta) of genes associated with immune response and inflammation pathways. Conclusion: This study highlighted significant association between circulating miRNAs miR-28-5p, miR-339-3p, and miR-432-5p and ICS response. miR-339-3p may be involved in immune dysregulation, which leads to a poor response to ICS treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hemolytic activity, in vitro as well as in vivo toxicity, and immunomodulatory potential of saponins-rich fraction of Asparagus adscendens Roxb. fruit (AA-SRF) have been assessed in this study in order to explore AA-SRF as an alternative safer adjuvant to standard Quil-A saponin. The AA-SRF showed lower hemolytic activity (HD50 = 301.01 ± 1.63 µg/ml) than Quil-A (HD50 = 17.15 ± 2.12 µg/ml). The sulforhodamine B assay also revealed that AA-SRF was less toxic to VERO cells (IC50≥200 ± 4.32 µg/ml) than Quil-A (IC50 = 60 ± 2.78 µg/ml). The AA-SRF did not lead to mortality in mice up to 1.6 mg and was much safer than Quil-A for in vivo use. Conversely, mice were subcutaneously immunized with OVA 100 μg alone or along with Alum (200 μg) or Quil-A (10 μg) or AA-SRF (50 μg/100 μg/200 μg) on days 0 and 14. The AA-SRF at 100 μg dose best supported the LPS/Con A primed splenocyte proliferation activity, elevated the serum OVA-specific total IgG antibody, IL-12, CD4 titer and upsurged CD3/CD19 expression in spleen as well as lymph node sections which in turn advocated its adjuvant potential. Thus, AA-SRF can be further studied for use as a safe alternative adjuvant in vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrauterine smoke (IUS) exposure during early childhood has been associated with a number of negative health consequences, including reduced lung function and asthma susceptibility. The biological mechanisms underlying these associations have not been established. MicroRNAs regulate the expression of numerous genes involved in lung development. Thus, investigation of the impact of IUS on miRNA expression during human lung development may elucidate the impact of IUS on post-natal respiratory outcomes. We sought to investigate the effect of IUS exposure on miRNA expression during early lung development. We hypothesized that miRNA–mRNA networks are dysregulated by IUS during human lung development and that these miRNAs may be associated with future risk of asthma and allergy. Human fetal lung samples from a prenatal tissue retrieval program were tested for differential miRNA expression with IUS exposure (measured using placental cotinine concentration). RNA was extracted and miRNA-sequencing was performed. We performed differential expression using IUS exposure, with covariate adjustment. We also considered the above model with an additional sex-by-IUS interaction term, allowing IUS effects to differ by male and female samples. Using paired gene expression profiles, we created sex-stratified miRNA–mRNA correlation networks predictive of IUS using DIABLO. We additionally evaluated whether miRNAs were associated with asthma and allergy outcomes in a cohort of childhood asthma. We profiled pseudoglandular lung miRNA in n = 298 samples, 139 (47%) of which had evidence of IUS exposure. Of 515 miRNAs, 25 were significantly associated with intrauterine smoke exposure (q-value < 0.10). The IUS associated miRNAs were correlated with well-known asthma genes (e.g., ORM1-Like Protein 3, ORDML3) and enriched in disease-relevant pathways (oxidative stress). Eleven IUS-miRNAs were also correlated with clinical measures (e.g., Immunoglobulin E andlungfunction) in children with asthma, further supporting their likely disease relevance. Lastly, we found substantial differences in IUS effects by sex, finding 95 significant IUS-miRNAs in male samples, but only four miRNAs in female samples. The miRNA–mRNA correlation networks were predictive of IUS (AUC = 0.78 in males and 0.86 in females) and suggested that IUS-miRNAs are involved in regulation of disease-relevant genes (e.g., A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 19 (ADAM19), LBH regulator of WNT signaling (LBH)) and sex hormone signaling (Coactivator associated methyltransferase 1(CARM1)). Our study demonstrated differential expression of miRNAs by IUS during early prenatal human lung development, which may be modified by sex. Based on their gene targets and correlation to clinical asthma and atopy outcomes, these IUS-miRNAs may be relevant for subsequent allergy and asthma risk. Our study provides insight into the impact of IUS in human fetal lung transcriptional networks and on the developmental origins of asthma and allergic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we provide a most extensive and detailed study of highly ionized Cu-like ions and diagnose extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray (SXR) transitions with N-shell electron excitation to M-shell and higher shells. We have determined energy levels and lifetimes for lowest 27 fine-structure levels by adopting multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock (MCDF) with the inclusion of quantum electrodynamics (QED) as well as Breit corrections as a first-order perturbation theory. We have also reported complete radiative data for strong electric dipole transitions within lowest 27 levels. We have compared our calculated results with theoretically calculated and experimentally measured results available in the literature, to measure the credibility and genuineness of our results, and achieve good agreement. Further, because of insufficiency of adequate and complete atomic data for higher levels of highly ionized Cu-like ions in the literature, we have performed other equivalent parallel calculations by implementing fully relativistic distorted wave flexible atomic code (FAC) to ensure the accuracy of our results. Additionally, we have also presented transition wavelengths of N[alpha] transitions of high-Z Cu-like ions by using Moseley's law. We believe that the large amount of atomic data presented in this paper may be useful in fusion and astrophysical plasma and in several applications, especially in lithography and cell biology. Key words: energy levels, radiative data, soft-X-ray, extreme ultraviolet, lifetimes. Nous presentons ici l'etude theorique la plus etendue et la plus complete des ions hautement ionises de type Cu et posons un diagnostique sur les transitions EUV (UV extreme) et SXR (rayons X mous) suivant l'excitation d'electrons de la couche N vers les couches M et superieures. Nous determinons les niveaux d'energie et les temps de vie pour les 27 niveaux de fine structure les plus bas, en utilisant une approche Dirac-Fock multi-configurations (MCDF), incluant les corrections d'electrodynamique quantique (EDQ/QCD) et de Breit comme perturbations au premier ordre. Nous obtenons un jeu complet de donnees radiatives pour les fortes transitions dipolaires electriques parmi les 27 niveaux les plus bas. Nous comparons nos resultats avec les donnees theoriques et experimentales apparaissant dans la litterature, afin de mesurer la credibilite et la precision de nos resultats et observons un tres bon accord. De plus, a cause de l'insuffisance dans la litterature de donnees atomiques adequates et completes sur les niveaux d'energie plus elevee d'ions de type Cu hautement ionises, nous completons d'autres calculs paralleles equivalents en appliquant un code atomique pleinement relativiste d'ondes distordues (FAC) pour nous assurer de la precision des resultats. Nous presentons aussi les longueurs d'onde des transitions N[alpha] d'ions de type Cu de Z eleve en utilisant la loi de Moseley. Nous croyons que les donnees atomiques presentees ici en grande quantite peuvent etre utiles en fusion, en plasma astrophysiques et dans diverses applications comme la lithographie et la biologie cellulaire. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: Niveaux d'energie, donnees radiatives, rayons X mou, ultraviolet extreme, temps de vie., 1. Introduction In the past few years, lanthanide atoms or ions are most probable candidates for next generation extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and have drawn ponderable attention as potential light [...]

MicroRNA-mediated gene regulation plays a crucial role in controlling drought tolerance. In the present investigation, 13 drought-associated miRNA families consisting of 65 members and regulating 42 unique target mRNAs were identified from drought-associated microarray expression data in maize and were subjected to structural and functional characterization. The largest number of members (14) was found in the zma-miR166 and zma-miR395 families, with several targets. However, zma-miR160, zma-miR390, zma-miR393, and zma-miR2275 each showed a single target. Twenty-three major drought-responsive cis-regulatory elements were found in the upstream regions of miRNAs. Many drought-related transcription factors, such as GAMYB, HD-Zip III, and NAC, were associated with the target mRNAs. Furthermore, two contrasting subtropical maize genotypes (tolerant: HKI-1532 and sensitive: V-372) were used to understand the miRNA-assisted regulation of target mRNA under drought stress. Approximately 35 and 31% of miRNAs were up-regulated in HKI-1532 and V-372, respectively. The up-regulation of target mRNAs was as high as 14.2% in HKI-1532 but was only 2.38% in V-372. The expression patterns of miRNA-target mRNA pairs were classified into four different types: Type I- up-regulation, Type II- down-regulation, Type III- neutral regulation, and Type IV- opposite regulation. HKI-1532 displayed 46 Type I, 13 Type II, and 23 Type III patterns, whereas V-372 had mostly Type IV interactions (151). A low level of negative regulations of miRNA associated with a higher level of mRNA activity in the tolerant genotype helped to maintain crucial biological functions such as ABA signaling, the auxin response pathway, the light-responsive pathway and endosperm expression under stress conditions, thereby leading to drought tolerance. Our study identified candidate miRNAs and mRNAs operating in important pathways under drought stress conditions, and these candidates will be useful in the development of drought-tolerant maize hybrids.