2,032 research outputs found
alpha - HgS Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Structure and Optical Properties
Well-separated mercury sulfide (HgS) nanocrystals are synthesized by a wet
chemical route. Transmission electron microscopy studies show that nanocrystals
are nearly spherical in shape with average size of 9 nm. Grazing angle X-ray
diffraction confirms that HgS nanocrystals are in cinnabar phase. Particle
induced X-ray emission and Rutherford back scattering spectrometry analysis
reveal HgS nanocrystals are stoichiometric and free from foreign impurities.
The optical absorption measurements show two excitonic peaks corresponding to
electron-heavy hole and electron-light hole transitions, which are blue shifted
by 0.1 and 0.2 eV, respectively, from its bulk value, due to quantum size
effect. The experimental data obtained by optical absorption measurement is
simulated with a theoretical model considering the particle size distribution
as Gaussian
Resonant nonlinear optics of backward waves in negative-index metamaterials
The extraordinary properties of resonant four-wave mixing of backward waves
in doped negative-index materials are investigated. The feasibility of
independent engineering of negative refractive index and nonlinear optical
response as well as quantum control of the nonlinear propagation process in
such composites is shown due to the coherent energy transfer from the control
to the signal field. Laser-induced transparency, quantum switching,
frequency-tunable narrow-band filtering, amplification, and realizing a
miniature mirrorless optical parametric generator of the entangled backward and
ordinary waves are among the possible applications of the investigated
processes.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure
Structure, Transport and Magnetic properties in LaSrCoRuO
The perovskite solid solutions of the type
LaSrCoRuO with 0.25 x
0.75 have been investigated for their structural, magnetic and transport
properties. All the compounds crystallize in double perovskite structure. The
magnetization measurements indicate a complex magnetic ground state with strong
competition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions.
Resistivity of the compounds is in confirmation with hopping conduction
behaviour though differences are noted especially for = 0.4 and 0.6. Most
importantly, low field (50Oe) magnetization measurements display negative
magnetization during the zero field cooled cycle. X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy measurements indicate presence of Co/Co and
Ru/Ru redox couples in all compositions except = 0.5.
Presence of magnetic ions like Ru and Co gives rise to additional
ferromagnetic (Ru-rich) and antiferromagnetic sublattices and also explains the
observed negative magnetization.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Magn. Magn. Mate
Interferon-λ restricts West Nile virus neuroinvasion by tightening the blood-brain barrier
Although interferon-λ [also known as type III interferon or interleukin-28 (IL-28)/IL-29] restricts infection by several viruses, its inhibitory mechanism has remained uncertain. We used recombinant interferon-λ and mice lacking the interferon-λ receptor (IFNLR1) to evaluate the effect of interferon-λ on infection with West Nile virus, an encephalitic flavivirus. Cell culture studies in mouse keratinocytes and dendritic cells showed no direct antiviral effect of exogenous interferon-λ, even though expression of interferon-stimulated genes was induced. We observed no differences in West Nile virus burden between wild-type and Ifnlr1-/- mice in the draining lymph nodes, spleen, or blood. We detected increased West Nile virus infection in the brain and spinal cord of Ifnlr1-/- mice, yet this was not associated with a direct antiviral effect in mouse neurons. Instead, we observed an increase in blood-brain barrier permeability in Ifnlr1-/- mice. Treatment of mice with pegylated interferon-λ2 resulted in decreased blood-brain barrier permeability, reduced West Nile virus infection in the brain without affecting viremia, and improved survival against lethal virus challenge. An in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier showed that interferon-λ signaling in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells increased transendothelial electrical resistance, decreased virus movement across the barrier, and modulated tight junction protein localization in a protein synthesis- and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1)-independent manner. Our data establish an indirect antiviral function of interferon-λ in which noncanonical signaling through IFNLR1 tightens the blood-brain barrier and restricts viral neuroinvasion and pathogenesis
Optical Activity From Extra Dimension
Optical activity, like Faraday effect, is a rotation of the plane of
polarization of propagating light in a medium and can be attributed to
different sources with distinct signatures. In this note we discuss the effect
of optical activity {\it{in vacuum}} due to Kaluza-Klein scalar field ,
in the presence of an external electro-magnetic field. The astrophysical
implication of this effect is indicated. We also point out the possibility of
observing the same in laboratory conditions.Comment: Four Page
Density-functional theory of quantum wires and dots in a strong magnetic field
We study the competition between the exchange and the direct Coulomb
interaction near the edge of a two-dimensional electron gas in a strong
magnetic field using density-functional theory in a local approximation for the
exchange-energy functional. Exchange is shown to play a significant role in
reducing the spatial extent of the compressible edge channel regions obtained
from an electrostatic description. The transition from the incompressible edge
channels of the Hartree-Fock picture to the broad, compressible strips
predicted by electrostatics occurs within a narrow and experimentally
accessible range of confinement strengths.Comment: 24 pages latex and 10 postscript figures in self extracting fil
Riemann's theorem for quantum tilted rotors
The angular momentum, angular velocity, Kelvin circulation, and vortex
velocity vectors of a quantum Riemann rotor are proven to be either (1) aligned
with a principal axis or (2) lie in a principal plane of the inertia ellipsoid.
In the second case, the ratios of the components of the Kelvin circulation to
the corresponding components of the angular momentum, and the ratios of the
components of the angular velocity to those of the vortex velocity are analytic
functions of the axes lengths.Comment: 8 pages, Phys. Rev.
The association of retinopathy and low GFR in type 2 diabetes
We sought to determine characteristics which strengthen the association between markers of diabetic kidney disease and retinopathy
Atenolol versus losartan in children and young adults with Marfan's syndrome
BACKGROUND : Aortic-root dissection is the leading cause of death in Marfan's syndrome. Studies suggest that with regard to slowing aortic-root enlargement, losartan may be more effective than beta-blockers, the current standard therapy in most centers.
METHODS : We conducted a randomized trial comparing losartan with atenolol in children and young adults with Marfan's syndrome. The primary outcome was the rate of aortic-root enlargement, expressed as the change in the maximum aortic-root-diameter z score indexed to body-surface area (hereafter, aortic-root z score) over a 3-year period. Secondary outcomes included the rate of change in the absolute diameter of the aortic root; the rate of change in aortic regurgitation; the time to aortic dissection, aortic-root surgery, or death; somatic growth; and the incidence of adverse events.
RESULTS : From January 2007 through February 2011, a total of 21 clinical centers enrolled 608 participants, 6 months to 25 years of age (mean [+/- SD] age, 11.5 +/- 6.5 years in the atenolol group and 11.0 +/- 6.2 years in the losartan group), who had an aorticroot z score greater than 3.0. The baseline-adjusted rate of change (+/- SE) in the aortic-root z score did not differ significantly between the atenolol group and the losartan group (-0.139 +/- 0.013 and -0.107 +/- 0.013 standard-deviation units per year, respectively; P = 0.08). Both slopes were significantly less than zero, indicating a decrease in the degree of aortic-root dilatation relative to body-surface area with either treatment. The 3-year rates of aortic-root surgery, aortic dissection, death, and a composite of these events did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups.
CONCLUSIONS : Among children and young adults with Marfan's syndrome who were randomly assigned to losartan or atenolol, we found no significant difference in the rate of aorticroot dilatation between the two treatment groups over a 3-year period
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