3,727 research outputs found
Correlated-electron description of the photophysics of thin films of -conjugated polymers
We extend Mulliken's theory of ground state charge transfer in a
donor-acceptor complex to excited state charge transfer between pairs of
identical -conjugated oligomers, one of which is in the optically excited
state and the other in the ground state, leading to the formation of a
charge-transfer exciton. Within our theory, optical absorptions from the
charge-transfer exciton should include a low energy intermolecular
charge-transfer excitation, as well as distinct intramolecular excitations from
both the neutral delocalized exciton component and the Coulombically bound
polaron-pair component of the charge-transfer exciton. We report high order
configuration-interaction calculations for pairs of oligomers of
poly-paraphenylenevinylene (PPV) that go beyond our previous single
configuration-interaction calculation and find all five excited state
absorptions predicted using heuristic arguments based on the Mulliken concept.
Our calculated excited state absorption spectrum exhibits strong qualitative
agreement with the complete wavelength-dependent ultrafast photoinduced
absorption in films of PPV derivatives, suggesting that a significant fraction
of the photoinduced absorption here is from the charge-transfer exciton. We
make detailed comparisons to experiments, and a testable experimental
prediction
Globular Cluster Systems in Brightest Cluster Galaxies. III: Beyond Bimodality
We present new deep photometry of the rich globular cluster (GC) systems
around the Brightest Cluster Galaxies UGC 9799 (Abell 2052) and UGC 10143
(Abell 2147), obtained with the HST ACS and WFC3 cameras. For comparison, we
also present new reductions of similar HST/ACS data for the Coma supergiants
NGC 4874 and 4889. All four of these galaxies have huge cluster populations (to
the radial limits of our data, comprising from 12000 to 23000 clusters per
galaxy). The metallicity distribution functions (MDFs) of the GCs can still be
matched by a bimodal-Gaussian form where the metal-rich and metal-poor modes
are separated by ~0.8 dex, but the internal dispersions of each mode are so
large that the total MDF becomes very broad and nearly continuous from [Fe/H] =
-2.4 to Solar. There are, however, significant differences between galaxies in
the relative numbers of \emph{metal-rich} clusters, suggesting that they
underwent significantly different histories of mergers with massive, gas-rich
halos. Lastly, the proportion of metal-poor GCs rises especially rapidly
outside projected radii R > 4 R_eff, suggesting the importance of accreted
dwarf satellites in the outer halo. Comprehensive models for the formation of
GCs as part of the hierarchical formation of their parent galaxies will be
needed to trace the systematic change in structure of the MDF with galaxy mass,
from the distinctly bimodal form in smaller galaxies up to the broad continuum
that we see in the very largest systems.Comment: In press for Astrophysical Journa
A review of selection criteria used by medical scheme advisers to approve or deny procedures with a cosmetic component
Objective. To review and apply statistical tests to the selection criteria used by two medical advisers to approve or deny applications for three common cosmetic or reconstructive procedures within a large group of medical schemes.Design. A retrospective descriptive study which applied multiple regression analysis, frequency analysis, comparison of means and simple correlations to the data sets for three procedures.Setting. Administrative records from the clinical files of medical advisers and the administrator's claims database.Subjects. Data were reviewed for 1 143 members who, between January and December 1996, submitted applications for breast reduction, excimer laser refractive surgery, or otoplasty.Main outcome measures. The primary outcome measure was the statistical relationship between medical advisers' selection criteria and final decision. In addition, the financial implications of these cosmetic/reconstructive procedures were assessed.Results. For the three procedures reviewed there was a statistically significant relationship behveen 5 of 13 preoperative criteria requested and the medical advisers' opinion. Excimer laser surgery was generally approved on the basis of the refractive error (myopia> -3.00; astigmatism > -1.5 dioptres); otoplasty was generally approved for children aged :≤ 12.years; and breast reduction was usually covered for women with a sternal-nipple distance > 29.0 cm and with a cup size ≥ DD. The other data submitted were similarly distributed between the approved and denied groups.Conclusions. Review of medical advisers' decisions is important in an era of protocols, guidelines and 'standard operating procedures'. Selection criteria for approval of applications for medically necesssary cosmetic/reconstructive surgery must be reviewed and revised to provide a reliable, reproducible and statistically valid process
Evidence for Excimer Photoexcitations in an Ordered {\pi}-Conjugated Polymer Film
We report pressure-dependent transient picosecond and continuous-wave
photomodulation studies of disordered and ordered films of
2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy) poly(para-phenylenevinylene). Photoinduced
absorption (PA) bands in the disordered film exhibit very weak pressure
dependence and are assigned to intrachain excitons and polarons. In contrast,
the ordered film exhibits two additional transient PA bands in the midinfrared
that blueshift dramatically with pressure. Based on high-order configuration
interaction calculations we ascribe the PA bands in the ordered film to
excimers. Our work brings insight to the exciton binding energy in ordered
films versus disordered films and solutions. The reduced exciton binding energy
in ordered films is due to new energy states appearing below the continuum band
threshold of the single strand.Comment: 5.5 pages, 5 figure
The Globular Cluster Systems around NGC 3311 and NGC 3309
We present extensive new photometry in (g',i') of the large globular cluster
(GC) system around NGC 3311, the central cD galaxy in the Hydra cluster. Our
GMOS data cover a 5.5' field of view and reach a limiting magnitude i' = 26,
about 0.5 magnitude fainter than the turnover point of the GC luminosity
function. We find that NGC 3311 has a huge population of ~16, 000 GCs, closely
similar to the prototypical high specific frequency Virgo giant M87. The
color-magnitude distribution shows that the metal-poor blue GC sequence and the
metal-richer red sequence are both present, with nearly equal numbers of
clusters. Bimodal fits to the color distributions confirm that the blue
sequence shows the same trend of progressively increasing metallicity with GC
mass that has previously been found in many other large galaxies; the
correlation we find corresponds to a scaling of GC metallicity with mass of Z ~
M^0.6 . By contrast, the red sequence shows no change of mean metallicity with
mass, but it shows an upward extension to much higher than normal luminosity
into the UCD-like range, strengthening the potential connections between
massive GCs and UCDs. The GC luminosity function, which we measure down to the
turnover point at M_I = -8.4, also has a normal form like those in other giant
ellipticals. Within the Hydra field, another giant elliptical NGC 3309 is
sitting just 100" from the cD NGC 3311. We use our data to solve simultaneously
for the spatial structure and total GC populations of both galaxies at once.
Their specific frequencies are S_N (NGC 3311) = 12.5 +/- 1.5 and S_N (NGC 3309)
= 0.6 +/-0.4. NGC 3311 is completely dominant and entirely comparable with
other cD-type systems such as M87 in Virgo.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures. Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal. Version
with higher resolution figures is available at
http://www.thewehners.net/astro/papers/wehner_n3311_highres.pd
Familial Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Associated with Cutaneous Lichen Amyloidosis
Background: This is a report of a patient with a novel genotype phenotype relationship of a c804 mutation of the RET proto-oncogene manifesting as medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and cutaneous lichen amyloidosis (CLA). Summary: Clinical data were obtained for patient appearance and laboratory results. Analyzed were histopathology of the skin lesion and thyroid gland, genetic mutation, and family pedigree. Skin histology and histochemistry were consistent with CLA. Serum calcitonin levels were moderately elevated. Thyroid histology demonstrated a 4mm focus of MTC. Measurements of serum parathormone, calcium, and plasma metanephrines were normal. DNA analysis demonstrated a mutation in codon 804 of the RET proto-oncogene resulting in a Valine to Methionine (V804M) substitution. Genetic testing in two siblings revealed the same mutation. Conclusions: This is the first description of a patient with CLA not associated with a mutation in codon 634. The patient is one of the few with a V804M mutation in whom the clinical expression did not fully conform to the definition of familial MTC.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78146/1/thy.2009.0021.pd
Photogeneration Dynamics of a Soliton Pair in Polyacetylene
Dynamical process of the formation of a soliton pair from a photogenerated
electron-hole pair in polyacetylene is studied numerically by adopting the SSH
Hamiltonian. A weak local disorder is introduced in order to trigger the
formation. Starting from an initial configuration with an electron at the
bottom of the conduction band and a hole at the top of the valence band,
separated by the Peierls gap, the time dependent Schrndinger
equation for the electron wave functions and the equation of motion for the
lattice displacements are solved numerically. After several uniform
oscillations of the lattice system at the early stage, a large distortion
corresponding to a pair of a soliton and an anti-soliton develops from a point
which is determined by the location and type of the disorder. In some cases,
two solitons run in opposite directions, leaving breather like oscillations
behind, and in other cases they form a bound state emitting acoustic lattice
vibrational modes.Comment: 16 pages 7 figure
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