Since its launch on 20 November 2004, the Swift mission has been detecting approximately 100 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) each year, and immediately (within approx. 90s) starting simultaneous X-ray and UV/optical observations of the afterglow. It has already collected an impressive database, including prompt emission to higher sensitivities than BATSE, uniform monitoring of afterglows and a rapid fo...

Strong optical and near-infrared (NIR) flares were discovered in the afterglow of GRB 080129. Their temporal behaviors, the sudden emergence and the quick disappearance, are rather similar to that of many X-ray flares (for instance, the giant flare of GRB 050502B). We argue that the optical/NIR flares following GRB 080129 are a low energy analogy of the X-ray flares and the most likely interpre...

Our perception of time constrains our experience of the world and exerts a pivotal influence over a myriad array of cognitive and motor functions. There is emerging evidence that the perceived duration of subsecond intervals is driven by sensory-specific neural activity in human and nonhuman animals, but the mechanisms underlying individual differences in time perception remain elusive. We test...

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We report the synthesis and characterization of a new electroactive surface capable of releasing the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) upon reduction. The GABA was anchored to an alkanethiol via electrochemically active quinone (abbreviation, TM-GABA). The quinone unit, upon reduction to the hydroquinone, cyclizes to release GABA into solution. The half-life is 99 s. The self-asse...

We have used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to compare the conformational changes produced by replacement of bound GDP by the GTP analogs guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and guanylyl (beta, gamma-imido)diphosphate (GMPPNP) in wild-type p21ras as well as the oncogenic mutant (G12D)p21ras. We have used isotope-edited nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to observe th...

To determine the molecular mechanisms for cold cataract formation in the nucleus of the young mammalian lens, we have investigated the thermally reversible opacification of gamma-crystallin solutions isolated from calf lens. Coexistence curves (plots of opacification temperature Tc versus protein concentration) were determined for the individual gamma-crystallin fractions II, III, and IV as wel...

Superconducting Transition edge sensor (TES) coupled with a heavy metal absorber is a promising microcalorimeter for Gammaray (γ-ray) spectroscopy with ultra-high energy resolution and high detection efficiency. It is very useful for the non-destructed inspection of the nuclide materials. High resolving power of γ-ray peaks can precisely identify multiple nuclides such as Plutonium (Pu) and Act...

A phoswich detector with two scintillation layers has been designed and assembled at Oregon State University. This detector is able to identify and reject Compton events and ultimately reduce the Compton continuum in gamma energy spectra. In this detector, CsI(Tl) crystal is used to primarily detect photoelectric events. The CsI(Tl) crystal is partially surrounded by a BGO crystal layer to capt...