37 research outputs found

    Epidemiology and etiology of Parkinson’s disease: a review of the evidence

    Full text link

    Nonperturbative modeling of fifth-order coherent multidimensional spectroscopy in light harvesting antennas

    Get PDF
    Recent advances in coherent multidimensional spectroscopy have boosted interest in exciton coherences in light harvesting complexes. We present nonperturbative calculations of two-dimensional (2D) electronic spectroscopy from a fifth-order phase-matching direction. The calculations show clear patterns that correspond to the electronic structure of one- and two-exciton manifolds of a Fenna-Matthews-Olsson light harvesting complex. Such signals can provide new information about the coherent properties of antenna pigment protein complexes

    Temperature dependent exciton-exciton annihilation in the LH2 antenna complex

    No full text
    Two-color pump-probe measurements of the peripheral light harvesting complex LH2 of Rb.sphaeroides reveal strong temperature dependence of the annihilation rate. The experimental results were modeled via multi-exciton density matrix theory. Based on available literature data we can set an upper limit for the feasible intramolecular internal conversion rate. We show that this also restricts the possible values of the still ill-determined energy of the doubly-excited molecular level of the bacteriochlorophyll, which is responsible for the annihilation process. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

    Frequency dispersed transient absorption spectra of dissolved perylene: A case study using the density matrix version of the MCTDH method

    No full text
    A theoretical scheme is presented to calculate non-linear optical spectra of molecules in solution. Starting with electronic structure calculations of the ground and excited state, a subset of vibrational coordinates exhibiting the largest Huang-Rhys factors is assigned. It is used to set up a model Hamiltonian for density matrix multi configurational time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH) calculations. The expression derived for the dissipative part of the equation of motion goes beyond the earlier used Lindblad-form. In order to calculate the non-linear response the electric field strength is introduced into the density matrix equations used to directly determine the polarization. The whole scheme is applied to perylene as a reference case

    Biventricular Pacing Going Along with Acute Hemodynamic Response in a Patient with Huge Anterior Wall Aneurysm - Importance of Pacing Viable Myocardium

    No full text
    WOS: 000470707600001PubMed ID: 31177265Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is variable among patients. Extensive scar tissue burden has been characterized as a negative predictor of significant response. Whereas mid-term and long-term response has been thoroughly investigated in randomized clinical trials; however, little is known about acute hemodynamic effects of biventricular pacing. Case Report: We report a case of an elderly female patient with severe ischemic cardiomyopathy and a large anterior wall aneurysm, who received right ventricular and biventricular pacing during ablation of incessant pleomorphic ventricular tachycardia. During the procedure, biventricular pacing was associated with a 20% acute increase in systolic blood pressure compared to right ventricular pacing, although there was no acute or long-term effect on left ventricular function. Conclusions: The acute hemodynamic effect of CRT in our patient suggests an effect of CRT even in patients with negative predictors of CRT response such as severe ischemic cardiomyopathy with a large aneurysm. Although no marked increase in left ventricular function might be observed, the acute effect of CRT might contribute to stabilization of heart failure in these patients

    Pneumococcal prophages are diverse, but not without structure or history

    No full text
    Bacteriophages (phages) infect many bacterial species, but little is known about the diversity of phages among the pneumococcus, a leading global pathogen. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence, diversity and molecular epidemiology of prophages (phage DNA integrated within the bacterial genome) among pneumococci isolatedover the past 90 years. Nearly 500 pneumococcal genomes were investigated and RNA sequencing was used to explore prophage gene expression. We revealed that every pneumococcal genome contained prophage DNA. 286 full-length/putatively full-length pneumococcal prophages were identified, of which 163 have not previously been reported. Full-length prophages clustered into four major groups and every group dated from the 1930-40s onward. There was limited evidence for genes shared between prophage clusters. Prophages typically integrated in one of five different sites within the pneumococcal genome. 72% of prophages possessed the virulence genes pblAand/or pblB. Individual prophages and the host pneumococcal genetic lineage were strongly associated and some prophages persisted for many decades. RNA sequencing provided clear evidence of prophage gene expression. Overall, pneumococcal prophages were highly prevalent, demonstrated a structured population, possessed genes associated with virulence, and were expressed under experimental conditions. Pneumococcal prophages are likely to play a more important role in pneumococcal biology and evolution than previously recognised

    Micah 2:9 and the traumatic effects of depriving children of their parents

    Get PDF
    The Hebrew Bible and/or the Old Testament is replete with narratives of families that are devastated and separated by the unfaithfulness of injustice. Such situations are mostly seen to be theologically reprehensible and morally unacceptable. In the book of Micah, the fluidity of the rhetorical characterisation of those who opposed moral values and the godly voice is manifested in shameful actions against women and children. Since children who are deprived of parents are victims, this article attempts to examine Micah 2:9 and the effects of depriving children of their parents against the background of Israel's social ethics of the marginalised minority. As a background, the article begins with a description of the family as an attractive and viable setting for the growth and development of children, continues with a relative examination of data on Israel's social justice and marginalised minority, situates and analyses Micah 2:9 within its context, and then concludes with some effects of depriving children of their parents from the perspective of trauma research. CONTRIBUTION: This article brings together insight from trauma research into dialogue with biblical, literary, exegetical and theological discourse. Such creative dialogue generates insightful alternative and viable components of the process of creating a healthy, viable community, and consequently invites readers to the urgent ethical concern for compassion and care for the most vulnerable in societyhttp://www.hts.org.zahj2020Old Testament Studie
    corecore