643 research outputs found
The Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination of Elderly: Population-Based Influenza Vaccination Program in Taiwan during 1998–2006
Minimum-error discrimination between symmetric mixed quantum states
We provide a solution of finding optimal measurement strategy for
distinguishing between symmetric mixed quantum states. It is assumed that the
matrix elements of at least one of the symmetric quantum states are all real
and nonnegative in the basis of the eigenstates of the symmetry operator.Comment: 10 page
Geometrical Frustration in Nanowire Growth
Idealized nanowire geometries assume stable sidewalls at right angles to the growth front. Here we report growth simulations that include a mix of nonorthogonal facet orientations, as for Au-catalyzed Si. We compare these with in situ microscopy observations, finding striking correspondences. In both experiments and simulations, there are distinct growth modes that accommodate the lack of right angles in different ways-one through sawtooth-textured sidewalls, the other through a growth front at an angle to the growth axis. Small changes in conditions can reversibly switch the growth between modes. The fundamental differences between these modes have important implications for control of nanowire growth
High-throughput avian molecular sexing by SYBR green-based real-time PCR combined with melting curve analysis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Combination of <it>CHD </it>(chromo-helicase-DNA binding protein)-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with electrophoresis (PCR/electrophoresis) is the most common avian molecular sexing technique but it is lab-intensive and gel-required. Gender determination often fails when the difference in length between the PCR products of <it>CHD-Z </it>and <it>CHD-W </it>genes is too short to be resolved.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we are the first to introduce a PCR-melting curve analysis (PCR/MCA) to identify the gender of birds by genomic DNA, which is gel-free, quick, and inexpensive. <it>Spilornis cheela hoya </it>(<it>S. c. hoya</it>) and <it>Pycnonotus sinensis </it>(<it>P. sinensis</it>) were used to illustrate this novel molecular sexing technique. The difference in the length of <it>CHD </it>genes in <it>S. c. hoya </it>and <it>P. sinensis </it>is 13-, and 52-bp, respectively. Using Griffiths' P2/P8 primers, molecular sexing failed both in PCR/electrophoresis of <it>S. c. hoya </it>and in PCR/MCA of <it>S. c. hoya </it>and <it>P. sinensis</it>. In contrast, we redesigned sex-specific primers to yield 185- and 112-bp PCR products for the <it>CHD-Z </it>and <it>CHD-W </it>genes of <it>S. c. hoya</it>, respectively, using PCR/MCA. Using this specific primer set, at least 13 samples of <it>S. c. hoya </it>were examined simultaneously and the Tm peaks of <it>CHD-Z </it>and <it>CHD-W </it>PCR products were distinguished.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study, we introduced a high-throughput avian molecular sexing technique and successfully applied it to two species. This new method holds a great potential for use in high throughput sexing of other avian species, as well.</p
Antiferromagnetism and superconductivity of the two-dimensional extended t–J model
The mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) and the correlation between the antiferromagnetic long-range order (AFLRO) and superconductivity (SC) phases are the central issues of the study of HTS theory. SC and AFLRO of the hole-doped two-dimensional extended t- J model are studied by the variational Monte Carlo method. The results show that SC is greatly enhanced by the long-range hopping terms t' and t" for the optimal and overdoped cases. The phase of coexisting SC and AFM in the t-J model disappears when t and t" are included. It is concluded that the extended t-J model provides a more accurate description for HTS than the traditional t-J model does. The momentum distribution function n(k) and the shape of Fermi surface play critical roles for establishing the phase diagram of HTS materials
Scale invariance in coarsening of binary and ternary fluids
Phase separation in binary and ternary fluids is studied using a two
dimensional Lattice Gas Automata. The lengths, given by the the first zero
crossing point of the correlation function and the total interface length is
shown to exhibit power law dependence on time. In binary mixtures, our data
clearly indicate the existence of a regime having more than one length scale
where the coarsening process proceeds through the rupture and reassociation of
domains. In ternary fluids; in the case of symmetric mixtures there exists a
regime with a single length scale having dynamic exponent 1/2, while in
asymmetric mixtures our data establish the break down of scale invariance.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figure
Early stage scaling in phase ordering kinetics
A global analysis of the scaling behaviour of a system with a scalar order
parameter quenched to zero temperature is obtained by numerical simulation of
the Ginzburg-Landau equation with conserved and non conserved order parameter.
A rich structure emerges, characterized by early and asymptotic scaling
regimes, separated by a crossover. The interplay among different dynamical
behaviours is investigated by varying the parameters of the quench and can be
interpreted as due to the competition of different dynamical fixed points.Comment: 21 pages, latex, 7 figures available upon request from
[email protected]
Regioselective deacetylation based on teicoplanin-complexed Orf2*crystal structures
Lipoglycopeptide antibiotics are more effective than vancomycin against MRSA as they carry an extra aliphatic acyl side chain on glucosamine (Glm) at residue 4 (r4). The biosynthesis of the r4 N-acyl Glc moiety at teicoplanin (Tei) or A40926 has been elucidated, in which the primary amine nucleophile of Glm is freed from the r4 GlcNac pseudo-Tei precursor by Orf2* for the subsequent acylation reaction to occur. In this report, two Orf2* structures in complex with beta-D-octyl glucoside or Tei were solved. Of the complexed structures, the substrate binding site and a previously unknown hydrophobic cavity were revealed, wherein r4 GlcNac acts as the key signature for molecular recognition and the cavity allows substrates carrying longer acyl side chains in addition to the acetyl group. On the basis of the complexed structures, a triple-mutation mutant S98A/V121A/F193Y is able to regioselectively deacetylate r6 GlcNac pseudo-Tei instead of that at r4. Thereby, novel analogs can be made at the r6 sugar moiety
Scaling and Crossover in the Large-N Model for Growth Kinetics
The dependence of the scaling properties of the structure factor on space
dimensionality, range of interaction, initial and final conditions, presence or
absence of a conservation law is analysed in the framework of the large-N model
for growth kinetics. The variety of asymptotic behaviours is quite rich,
including standard scaling, multiscaling and a mixture of the two. The
different scaling properties obtained as the parameters are varied are
controlled by a structure of fixed points with their domains of attraction.
Crossovers arising from the competition between distinct fixed points are
explicitely obtained. Temperature fluctuations below the critical temperature
are not found to be irrelevant when the order parameter is conserved. The model
is solved by integration of the equation of motion for the structure factor and
by a renormalization group approach.Comment: 48 pages with 6 figures available upon request, plain LaTe
Global Search for New Physics with 2.0/fb at CDF
Data collected in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron are searched for
indications of new electroweak-scale physics. Rather than focusing on
particular new physics scenarios, CDF data are analyzed for discrepancies with
the standard model prediction. A model-independent approach (Vista) considers
gross features of the data, and is sensitive to new large cross-section
physics. Further sensitivity to new physics is provided by two additional
algorithms: a Bump Hunter searches invariant mass distributions for "bumps"
that could indicate resonant production of new particles; and the Sleuth
procedure scans for data excesses at large summed transverse momentum. This
combined global search for new physics in 2.0/fb of ppbar collisions at
sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV reveals no indication of physics beyond the standard model.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Final version which appeared in Physical Review D
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