Ultraprecise Determination of Cs(nS_{1/2}) and Cs(nD_{J}) Quantum Defects for Sensing and Computing: Evaluation of Core Contributions.

We make absolute frequency measurements of Cs Rydberg transitions, |6S_{1/2},F=3⟩→|nS_{1/2}(n=23-90)⟩ and |nD_{3/2,5/2}(n=21-90)⟩, with an accuracy of less than 72 kHz. The quantum defect parameters for the measured Rydberg series are the most precise obtained to date. The quantum defect series is terminated at δ_{4}, showing that prior fits requiring higher order quantum defects reflect uncertainties in the observations.

Midbrain dopamine drives splenic immunity through a brain-to-body circuit.

Midbrain dopamine neurons are well-known to shape central nervous system function, yet there is growing evidence for their influence on the peripheral immune systems. Here we demonstrate that midbrain dopamine neurons form a circuit to the spleen via a multisynaptic pathway from the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) through the celiac ganglion. Midbrain dopamine neurons modulate the activity of D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptor-expressing DVC neurons.

Transcriptional regulation in the absence of inositol trisphosphate receptor calcium signaling.

The activation of IP receptor (IPR) Ca channels generates agonist-mediated Ca signals that are critical for the regulation of a wide range of biological processes. It is therefore surprising that CRISPR induced loss of all three IPR isoforms (TKO) in HEK293 and HeLa cell lines yields cells that can survive, grow and divide, albeit more slowly than wild-type cells. In an effort to understand the adaptive mechanisms involved, we have examined the activity of key Ca dependent transcription factors (NFAT, CREB and AP-1) and signaling pathways using luciferase-reporter assays, phosphoprotein immunoblots and whole genome transcriptomic studies.

Ontogenetic change in body shape for white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, in Australian waters.

The analysis of how biological shape changes across ontogeny can provide us with valuable information on how species adapt behaviorally, physiologically, and ecologically. The white shark Carcharodon carcharias is one of the largest and most widely distributed apex predators globally, yet an understanding of ontogenetic changes in body shape and relative scaling of length and weight measures is limited, especially in relation to foraging ecology. Through analysis of a suite of shape-related metrics, we identified ontogenetic patterns of scaling throughout development.