Time-dependent density-matrix functional theory for biexcitonic phenomena

We formulate a time-dependent density-matrix functional theory (TDDMFT) approach for higher-order correlation effects like biexcitons in optical processes in solids based on the reduced two-particle density-matrix formalism within the normal orbital representation. A TDDMFT version of the Schr\"odinger equation for biexcitons in terms of one- and two-body reduced density matrices is derived, which leads to finite biexcitonic binding energies already with an adiabatic approximation. Biexcitonic binding energies for several bulk semiconductors are calculated using a contact biexciton model

Diffusion of small two-dimensional Cu islands on Cu(111) studied with a kinetic Monte Carlo method

Diffusion of small two-dimensional Cu islands (containing up to 10 atoms) on Cu(111) has been studied using the newly developed self-learning Kinetic Monte Carlo (SLKMC) method which is based on a database of diffusion processes and their energetics accumulated automatically during the implementation of the SLKMC code. Results obtained from simulations in which atoms hop from one fcc hollow site to another are compared with those obtained from a parallel set of simulations in which the database is supplemented by processes revealed in complementary molecular dynamics simulations at 500K. They include processes involving the hcp (stacking-fault) sites, which facilitate concerted motion of the islands (simultaneous motion of all atoms in the island). A significant difference in the scaling of the effective diffusion barriers with island size is observed in the two cases. In particular, the presence of concerted island motion leads to an almost linear increase in the effective diffusion barrier with size, while its absence accounts for strong size-dependent oscillations and anomalous behavior for trimers and heptamers. We also identify and discuss in detail the key microscopic processes responsible for the diffusion and examine the frequencies of their occurrence, as a function of island size and substrate temperature.Peer reviewe

BMPR-II deficiency elicits pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic responses through the activation of TGFbeta-TAK1-MAPK pathways in PAH

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a cardiovascular disorder associated with enhanced proliferation and suppressed apoptosis of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Heterozygous mutations in the type II receptor for bone morphogenetic protein (BMPR2) underlie the majority of the inherited and familial forms of PAH. The transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) pathway is activated in both human and experimental models of PAH. However, how these factors exert pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic responses in PAH remains unclear. Using mouse primary PASMCs derived from knock-in mice, we demonstrated that BMPR-II dysfunction promotes the activation of small mothers against decapentaplegia-independent mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways via TGFbeta-associated kinase 1 (TAK1), resulting in a pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic response. Inhibition of the TAK1-MAPK axis rescues abnormal proliferation and apoptosis in these cells. In both hypoxia and monocrotaline-induced PAH rat models, which display reduced levels of bmpr2 transcripts, this study further indicates that the TGFbeta-MAPK axis is activated in lungs following elevation of both expression and phosphorylation of the TAK1 protein. In ex vivo cell-based assays, TAK1 inhibits BMP-responsive reporter activity and interacts with BMPR-II receptor. In the presence of pathogenic BMPR2 mutations observed in PAH patients, this interaction is greatly reduced. Taken together, these data suggest dysfunctional BMPR-II responsiveness intensifies TGFbeta-TAK1-MAPK signalling and thus alters the ratio of apoptosis to proliferation. This axis may be a potential therapeutic target in PAH

The European Union, borders and conflict transformation: the case of Cyprus

Much of the existing literature on the European Union (EU), conflict transformation and border dynamics has been premised on the assumption that the nature of the border determines EU intervention and the consequences that flow from this in terms of EU impact. The article aims to transcend this literature through assessing how domestic interpretations influence EU border transformation in conflict situations, taking Cyprus as a case study. Moreover, the objective is to fuse the literature on EU bordering impact and perceptions of the EU’s normative projection in conflict resolution. Pursuing this line of inquiry is an attempt to depart from the notion of borders being constructed solely by unidirectional EU logics of engagement or bordering practices to a conceptualization of the border as co-constituted space, where the interpretations of the EU’s normative projections by conflict parties, and the strategies that they pursue, can determine the relative openness of the EU border

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Expression of M. tuberculosis-induced suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1, SOCS3, FoxP3 and secretion of IL-6 associates with differing clinical severity of tuberculosis

Background Appropriate immune activation of T cells and macrophages is central for the control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. IFN-γ stimulated responses are lowered in tuberculosis (TB), while expression of Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) molecules – 1 and 3 and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+T regulatory cells is increased. Here we investigated the association of these molecules in regard to clinical severity of TB. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from patients with pulmonary TB (PTB, n = 33), extra-pulmonary TB (ETB, n = 33) and healthy endemic controls (EC, n = 15). Cases were classified as moderately advanced or far advanced PTB, and less severe or severe disseminated ETB. M. tuberculosis -stimulated IFN-γ, SOCS1, SOCS3 and FoxP3 gene expression and secretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines was measured. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney U, Wilcoxon Rank and Kruskal Wallis non-parametric tests. Results In un-stimulated PBMCs, IL-6 (p = 0.018) and IL-10 (p = 0.013) secretion levels were increased in PTB while IL-10 was also increased in ETB (p = 0.003), all in comparison with EC. M. tuberculosis-stimulated IL-6 (p = 0.003) was lowered in ETB as compared with EC. SOCS1 mRNA expression in M. tuberculosis stimulated PBMCs levels in moderately advanced PTB (p = 0.022), far advanced (p = 0.014) PTB, and severe ETB (p = 0.009) were raised as compared with EC. On the other hand, SOCS1 mRNA titers were reduced in less severe ETB, in comparison with severe ETB (p = 0.027) and far advanced PTB (p = 0.016). SOCS3 mRNA accumulation was reduced in far advanced PTB (p = 0.007) and FoxP3 mRNA expression was increased in less severe ETB as compared with EC (p = 0.017). Conclusions The lowered SOCS1 mRNA levels in patients with less severe extra-pulmonary TB as compared to those with more severe ETB and PTB may lead to elevated IFN-γ pathway gene expression in the latter group. As localized ETB has shown to be associated with more effective Th1 immunity and adaptive responses, this suggests a role for SOCS1 in determining disease outcome in extra-pulmonary TB

Mortality in Sepsis and its relationship with Gender.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Sepsis remains a leading cause of death across the world, carrying a mortality rate of 20-50%. Women have been reported to be less likely to suffer from sepsis and to have a lower risk of mortality from sepsis compared to men. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between gender and mortality in sepsis, and compare cytokine profiles of male and female patients. METHODS: This was a prospective case series on 97 patients admitted with sepsis. Clinical and microbiological data was gathered, blood samples were collected for cytokine (IL-10, IL-6 and TNFα) levels and patients were followed up for clinical outcome. RESULTS: There were 54% males and 46% females, with no significant difference of age or comorbids between genders. Respiratory tract infection was the commonest source of sepsis, and was more common in females (60%) compared to males (39%) (p=0.034). Males had a higher mortality (p=0.048, RR 1.73) and plasma IL-6 level(p=0.040) compared to females. Mean IL-6 plasma level was significantly (p\u3c0.01) higher in patients who died vs. who recovered. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that males with sepsis have a 70% greater mortality rate, and mortality is associated with a higher IL-6 plasma level

Modeling of the MEMS Reactive Ion Etching Process Using Neural Networks

Abstract Reactive ion etch (RIE) is commonly used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication as plasma etching method, where ions react with wafer surface substrate in plasma environment. Due to the importance of RIE in the MEMS field, two prediction models are established to predict the wafer status in reactive ion etching process: back-propagation neural network (BPNN) and principle component analysis BPNN (PCABPNN). These models have the potential to reduce the overall cost of ownership of MEMS equipment by increasing the wafer yield, and not depend upon monitoring wafers or expensive metrology rather it will enable inexpensive real-time wafer-to-wafer control applications in RIE. The artificial neural net (ANN) is trained with historical available input-output process data. Once trained, the ANN forecasts the process output rapidly if given the input values

First principles calculations of the electronic and geometric structure of Ag27Cu7Ag_{27}Cu_{7} nanoalloy

\emph{Ab initio} calculations of the structure and electronic density of states (DOS) of the perfect core-shell $Ag_{27}Cu_{7}$ nanoalloy attest to its $D_{5h}$ symmetry and confirm that it has only 6 non-equivalent (2 $Cu$ and 4 $Ag$) atoms. Analysis of bond-length, average formation energy, heat of formation of $Ag_{27}Cu_{7}$ and $L1_2$ $Ag-Cu$ alloys provide an explanation for the relative stability of the former with respect to the other nanoalloys in the same family. The HOMO-LUMO gap is found to be 0.77 eV, in agreement with previous results. Analysis of the DOS of $Ag_{27}Cu_{7}$, $L1_2$ $Ag-Cu$ alloys and related systems provides insight into the effects of low coordination, contraction/expansion and the presence of foreign atoms on the DOS of $Cu$ and $Ag$. While some characteristics of the DOS are reminiscent of those of the phonon-stable $L1_2$ $Ag-Cu$ alloys, the $Cu$ and $Ag$ states hybridize significantly in $Ag_{27}Cu_{7}$, compensating the $d$-band narrowing that each atom undergoes and hindering the dip in the DOS found in the bulk alloys. Charge density plots of $Ag_{27}Cu_{7}$ provide further insights into the relative strengths of the various interatomic bonds. Our results for the electronic and geometric structure of this nanoalloy can be explained in terms of length and strength hierarchies of the bonds, which may have implications also for the stability of alloy in any phase or size.Comment: 16 figure

To evaluate the correlation between gingival crevicular blood glucose and capillary blood glucose to screen diabetes mellitus in the dental office

Background: Most of the Indian population goes undiagnosed for diabetes due to unawareness. This will lead to more serious and long-term complications of diabetes. Thus, there is a critical need to increase opportunities for diabetes screening and early diabetes detection. Research has explored the dental office as a strategic venue of opportunity for glucose testing, examining the possibility of using gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) for diabetes screening. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability of gingival crevicular blood (GCB) to screen the diabetes. Methodology: Thirty patients were randomly selected based on bleeding on probing and probing depth. GCB and capillary finger blood (CFB) glucose levels were calculated using glucometer from patients. Data for glucose levels were statistically analyzed. Results: The correlation between GCB and CFB was high. Conclusion: GCB can be used as the screening test for diabetes in the dental office. Clinical Significance: GCB blood glucose level detection can be used as chairside screening test for diabetes patients